Determining The # Of Pieces To Sell In An Edition

I'd keep the number low. That said, Ansel Adams never did limited editions and is still selling pretty well..

usually i've seen anywhere between 20 and 100. just remember that there should be a letter of authenticity, and you should look at and approve the prints, and i think sign and number each one. i think it really depends on how many times you want to write down 5 of 20 or whatever. remember to get a few proofs for yourself, there is some rule that says you can have a certain number of copies.


----Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

I have seen anywhere from 2 to a little over 1,000 in an edition in the prestigious galleries in New England. The thing about having 1,000 in an edition is that you have to sell the print for way, way less than you would for an edition of 75, say.

Realistically, how many prints do you think you can sell? That should be the determining factor, but I wouldn't go much over 1,000. Most of them should be in the 2 - 175 range (the larger editions allow some small prints too).

Also, when numbering, a lot of artists number them in weird configurations (as is customary), like 161 in the edition. In other words, not rounded-out numbers. Also, many artists attribute different numbers in the edition for each photo. Example: 171, 62, 38, 112 and so on ...

For numbered prints and a good gallery, make sure the paper and framing is of the best quality, and archival. Make sure your signature is small too.

Don't do "12 of 101, 2nd edition" if the edition has had its run, or you will piss past customers off. I think most artists have figured this out, but some stragglers still try it. Just don't. Make sure you tell customers that there will only be so many prints made and that's it.

You may know all of this.

Editions are done based on print size. I'd do 10-15 if you think you could sell that many of each.

Peter Lik takes years and an army of aggressive salespeople to sell his 1,000 editions (if they even sell out) and meanwhile they end up on the secondary market selling for less than the ones in the gallery.

I personally think limited editions are a waste of time unless you have your own galleries in Las Vegas.

I will say even my very best seller has not sold a hundred times.

The IRS puts a maximum of 200 pieces in a limited edition of art for tax purposes.

More than that it's merchandise.

If you price everything the same it won't matter much, but if you use progressive pricing you may limit your sales.

No help with special edition question, but congrats on the exhibit of your work!! Although I am NOT a Yankee fan I do appreciate all the history of baseball and this would be an exhibit I could have enjoyed.

I would ask the gallery. Other than that anything over 50 doesn't seem that limited to me. And also the edition is only the signed prints of a certain size. Give yourself room to keep selling in another size if an edition sells out and also POD sales do not count. Only signed and numbered. Pod sales and mass editions don't devalue the limited edition they actually promote it. imho

As David Smith is saying about the IRS, I think the IRS sees anything 200 or fewer as an asset. This can mean a lot of good things. For instance if you hold back a few prints for yourself, your estate planning is different. Or selling those you held back later on can be a capital gains. But that would depend on other factors as well.

It is worth seeing a good accountant.

You can still sell open edition. Just to edify.

Dave Bridburg
https://Bridburg.com

If you want to know about limited editions why not go look at the people that specialize in producing limited edition prints. There are several first-class publishers out there that do this for artist and they do it very well. Then there are artists that do it for themselves and they too do very well.

The edition size is whatever you want it to be based on how many you think you are going to be able to sell.

I have seen editions of 5000 pieces sell out for some of the best known and top-selling artists. The more well known and the broader your distribution is the more pieces you can do at higher prices. Of course, an edition of 5000 pieces is not going to sell out overnight or even in a year or two.

If you are only going to sell them yourself and you have little or no name recognition or following, it is probably best to stay at a lower number and moderate prices.

I have artists that I rep that do all of their own publishing and fulfillment. One of my best selling artists does editions of 95-100 pieces, Giclees on canvas and sells them for $295 in the 9x12 to12x20 size. She currently has about 25 images. For some of those same images, she does a few on paper and get's $75 for a 23x17 and the edition size is 950.

Another of my best sellers is selling 23x15 1/2 for $1650 in editions of 250. He is much more well known and has been around for a long time.

Another sample would be 24x32 Giclee on Canvas for $795, edition of 175.

One of the best selling limited edition artist of all time, her newest release sold for $795 in 44x16 size and an edition of 3750.

In the years and years of selling limited editions of various sizes and probably five IRS audits, the topic of the edition size has never come up with either of the two CPA I have used nor the IRS. And we have never been fined or had one discrepancy come up in any of those audits.

Also, keep in mind that IRS no longer taxes unsold inventory so you do not have to do year-end inventor. But even if they did, you would not print the entire edition at one time so there would be little or no inventory. They would all be POD.

I am neither an accountant nor an attorney so if you have doubts it would be wise to check with your professional as David B suggested.

If you go look at what the major publishers of Limited Edition prints are doing, you will see that they do multiple sizes of the same images. The will also do Open Editions and offer them signed or unsigned. They do not do the same image as an open and limited in the same size.


1. Giclee on Canvas - Grande Edition
Dimensions: 48 x 40
Release Date: 5-2018
Code: EAL008GISNU4840
Edition Size: 35
Issue Price: $950.00
Level 1 Issue Price: $475.00

Quantity:
1

2. Giclee on Canvas - Artist Proof
Dimensions: 30 x 24
Release Date: 5-2018
Code: EAL008GIAPR3024
Edition Size: 25
Issue Price: $450.00
Level 1 Issue Price: $225.00

Quantity:
1

3. Giclee on Canvas - Signed & Numbered
Dimensions: 30 x 24
Release Date: 5-2018
Code: EAL008GISNU3024
Edition Size: 250
Issue Price: $350.00
Level 1 Issue Price: $175.00

Quantity:
1

4. Giclee on Paper - Artist Proof
Dimensions: 24 x 20
Release Date: 5-2018
Code: EAL008GPAPR2420
Edition Size: 50
Issue Price: $175.00
Level 1 Issue Price: $87.50

Quantity:
1

5. Giclee on Paper - Signed & Numbered
Dimensions: 24 x 20
Release Date: 5-2018
Code: EAL008GPSNU2420
Edition Size: 500
Issue Price: $150.00
Level 1 Issue Price: $75.00

Quantity:
1

6. Giclee on Canvas, Open Edition Signed
Dimensions: 18 x 15
Release Date: 5-2018
Code: EAL008GISON1815
Edition Size: Open
Issue Price: $125.00
Level 1 Issue Price: $62.50

Quantity:
1

7. Giclee on Canvas, Open Edition
Dimensions: 18 x 15
Release Date: 5-2018
Code: EAL008GIUSN1815
Edition Size: Open
Issue Price: $100.00
Level 1 Issue Price: $50.00

Quantity:
1

8. Digital Open Paper, Signed
Dimensions: 12 x 10
Release Date: 5-2018
Code: EAL008PRSON1210
Edition Size: Open
Issue Price: $35.00
Level 1 Issue Price: $17.50

Quantity:
1

9. Digital Open Paper
Dimensions: 12 x 10
Release Date: 5-2018
Code: EAL008PRUSN1210
Edition Size: Open
Issue Price: $30.00
Level 1 Issue Price: $15.00

Quantity:
1

From Ross Lewis. Thank you All for your informative contributions here. This is unfamiliar territory for me. My life was a pro photographer in the 70s/80s/90s for Fortune 500s and the NFL. Now, this new opportunity and education. All of your opinions and comments are extremely valuable.