Editions and prints decoded, numbers, artist’s proofs and signatures
What 12/50, AP, HC and BAT really mean, why a low number rarely matters, and how to tell an original print from a signed reproduction.
Tool
Edition Decoder
Type what is written in pencil under a print, or tap the examples. We explain each mark in plain English.
The pencil marks in the lower margin of a print carry a surprising amount of information: how many impressions exist, whether this one belongs to the numbered edition, and whether the artist signed it by hand. The decoder recognises the common marks and explains them; our guide to editions goes deeper.
Numbers and proofs
A fraction such as 12/50 means the twelfth impression of an edition of fifty. Artist’s proofs (AP or E.A.), printer’s proofs (PP), trial proofs (TP) and hors commerce impressions (HC) sit outside the numbered edition. In modern printmaking the number usually says nothing about quality, because every sheet is printed to match the approved proof.
Original print or reproduction
Woodcuts, etchings, lithographs and screenprints made by or with the artist are original prints. A giclée or an offset print of a painting is a reproduction, even when signed and numbered. Neither is wrong, but the difference matters for what you are buying. If in doubt, ask for the technique, the edition size and the printer in writing.
Questions
Is a low number worth more?
In most modern editions, no. All impressions are printed to the same standard, and the order in which they are numbered is not necessarily the order in which they were printed. With some older techniques that wear the plate, early impressions can be crisper, which is a question for a specialist, not for the number alone.
Read more
Behind the tool
Woodcut, etching, lithography and screenprint, printmaking explained
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