Editioning (Limited Editions)

Category: infrastructure

The production of a controlled number of copies (like prints or photographs) from a single master source.

Editioning creates scarcity, which builds market value. A "Limited Edition 1/50" means the artist produced 50 copies and then destroyed the master screen or plate. If an edition is "Open," the value is significantly lower because the supply is potentially infinite.

Common Examples

• The artist finalized the editioning process by signing and numbering each print from 1 to 50, guaranteeing no further units will ever be produced.
• The "Artist’s Proof" (AP) edition is a rare side-run of prints produced before the main edition, often holding a higher premium for savvy collectors.