The low down on limited edition prints

One of the most common misconceptions I come across in the art market is that limited edition prints are somehow a lesser artwork compared to paintings. The fact is that limited edition prints are not lesser imitations of paintings in fact most limited editions prints are original artworks in their own right with the image only appearing in print form. An artists limited edition prints tend increase in price at the same rate as an artists paintings and are considered to be highly collectable. The reason limited edition prints are so collectable is because their prices are usually within reach of pretty much anyone which means that collectors are able to purchase artworks by blue-chip artists whose paintings are out of their reach.

You are far better off purchasing a fantastic limited edition print rather than a bad painting because the market is always going to treat a bad painting as a bad painting and the prices realised will reflect this. Many art consultants will in fact suggest that part of anyone's art portfolo should include limited edition prints even if the can afford paintings.

A proper fine art limited edition print should be hand signed and hand numbered with an edition of less than 100.