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Limited edition
A limited edition is a print run capped at a stated number, typically signed and numbered in pencil by the artist.
Limited edition, schematic. Shapes are drawn for illustration.
What the sources say
| Point | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Signing | Normally hand signed and numbered by the artist, typically in pencil | Wikipedia |
| Numbering | Shows the place in the run, for example 1/25; the second number is the total the artist will make | Tate, Wikipedia (Edition) |
| Proofs | Artist's proofs are marked AP and printer's proofs PP | Tate |
| Large runs | Runs over a thousand are regarded as dubious for original prints; editions above about 500 are likely to be reproductions of paintings | Wikipedia |
For wall art
These size thresholds are market conventions, not rules; an edition number tells you how many exist, not how the piece was printed.
Where the sources stop
Wikipedia says editions above about 500 suggest reproductions and runs over a thousand are dubious for original prints; Tate describes limits as a specified number and sets no such thresholds, so treat them as market conventions.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Limited edition (fetched 2026-11-12)
- Tate art terms: edition (fetched 2026-11-12)
- Wikipedia: Edition (printmaking) (fetched 2026-11-12)
Figures from these pages are paraphrased; each page was fetched and read on 2026-11-12. Where two sources differ, both are shown.