Proof Before Letters
1870s Other Art Style Animal Prints
Lithograph
Late 18th Century Naturalistic Portrait Prints
Engraving, Etching
19th Century Romantic Animal Prints
Lithograph
Early 19th Century Naturalistic Still-life Prints
Engraving
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
Early 1900s Portrait Prints
Etching
19th Century Figurative Prints
Lithograph
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
Mid-19th Century English School Portrait Prints
Engraving, Mezzotint
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1890s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
Mid-19th Century Realist Landscape Prints
Engraving
1750s Old Masters Figurative Prints
Engraving
Late 18th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints
Mezzotint
18th Century Figurative Prints
Engraving
1950s Cubist Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1950s Cubist Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1960s Romantic Figurative Prints
Lithograph
18th Century and Earlier Animal Prints
Antique Mid-19th Century Historical Memorabilia
Paper
Antique 1850s American Prints
Paper
19th Century Prints and Multiples
Late 19th Century Nude Prints
Etching
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
18th Century More Prints
Mezzotint
1880s Art Nouveau Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
1760s Old Masters Figurative Prints
Etching
Proof Before Letters For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Proof Before Letters?
Finding the Right Prints-works-on-paper for You
Decorating with fine art prints — whether they’re figurative prints, abstract prints or another variety — has always been a practical way of bringing a space to life as well as bringing works by an artist you love into your home.
Pursued in the 1960s and ’70s, largely by Pop artists drawn to its associations with mass production, advertising, packaging and seriality, as well as those challenging the primacy of the Abstract Expressionist brushstroke, printmaking was embraced in the 1980s by painters and conceptual artists ranging from David Salle and Elizabeth Murray to Adrian Piper and Sherrie Levine.
Printmaking is the transfer of an image from one surface to another. An artist takes a material like stone, metal, wood or wax, carves, incises, draws or otherwise marks it with an image, inks or paints it and then transfers the image to a piece of paper or other material.
Fine art prints are frequently confused with their more commercial counterparts. After all, our closest connection to the printed image is through mass-produced newspapers, magazines and books, and many people don’t realize that even though prints are editions, they start with an original image created by an artist with the intent of reproducing it in a small batch. Fine art prints are created in strictly limited editions — 20 or 30 or maybe 50 — and are always based on an image created specifically to be made into an edition.
Many people think of revered Dutch artist Rembrandt as a painter but may not know that he was a printmaker as well. His prints have been preserved in time along with the work of other celebrated printmakers such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. These fine art prints are still highly sought after by collectors.
“It’s another tool in the artist’s toolbox, just like painting or sculpture or anything else that an artist uses in the service of mark making or expressing him- or herself,” says International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) vice president Betsy Senior, of New York’s Betsy Senior Fine Art, Inc.
Because artist’s editions tend to be more affordable and available than his or her unique works, they’re more accessible and can be a great opportunity to bring a variety of colors, textures and shapes into a space.
For tight corners, select small fine art prints as opposed to the oversized bold piece you’ll hang as a focal point in the dining area. But be careful not to choose something that is too big for your space. And feel free to lean into it if need be — not every work needs picture-hanging hooks. Leaning a larger fine art print against the wall behind a bookcase can add a stylish installation-type dynamic to your living room. (Read more about how to arrange wall art here.)
Find fine art prints for sale on 1stDibs today.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Whether artist’s proofs are more valuable varies. The limited supply of artist’s proofs often makes them more valuable than other prints. Discrepancies between artist’s proofs and the final prints can also increase their value. However, an artist’s proof that has a poor-quality image or is in poor condition may not be worth as much. If you're curious about the value of a particular piece, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer can evaluate it for you. Explore a selection of art prints on 1stDibs.
- Is an artist's proof worth more?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2024Yes, an artist's proof may be worth more than a regular edition print. The reason for this is that there is a smaller number of artist's proofs since these prints are ones that the artist produces and then holds back rather than offering for sale. Depending on the image quality and overall condition, an artist's proof is usually worth 20% to 50% more than an edition print. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer can provide a more specific valuation for your print. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of art prints from some of the world's top galleries and dealers.
- Is an artist's proof valuable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 30, 2024Yes, an artist's proof may be valuable. Generally, an artist's proof may sell for 20 to 50% more than the going price for a limited edition print from its series. However, the value of prints varies greatly depending on the artist, subject, age and condition. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer can give you an idea of how much a particular proof may be worth. On 1stDibs, explore a wide range of art prints.
- Are print proofs worth anything?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 30, 2024Yes, print proofs may be worth something. Also known as an artist's proof, a print proof is one that an artist makes for themselves or to test the printing process rather than for sale. The exclusivity of artist's proofs can make them worth more than other prints, especially if they still bear the artist's signature. However, the artist, historical significance, image quality and condition of artist's proofs will also influence how much they are worth. To learn the potential value of your prints, use the services of a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer. Find a large collection of art prints on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024The difference between an artist's proof and an edition comes down to purpose. An artist's proof can be thought of as a test run, a print that the artist makes to see how the image appears. Normally, the artist does not intend to sell these proofs. An edition is a print produced for the purpose of sale. You will sometimes see the term "main edition" used in place of edition. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of art prints.
- What is a letter tray used for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A letter tray is used for organizing papers. You can place different categories of mail and paperwork in the various levels of the trays. Often, people use trays with two levels: one for incoming documents and one for outgoing documents. Find a variety of vintage letter trays on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Artist proofs often command a higher price because of their rarity.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2024How much a Norman Rockwell artist's proof is worth depends on its condition, size, history and other factors. Generally, Rockwell's artist's proofs are worth more than standard limited edition prints of the same subject and quality because fewer were made, and selling prices for them are often in the thousands of dollars. Rockwell is among the most revered painters of the 20th century. His figurative and portrait paintings reflect an innocent and idyllic America described by the artist as "life as I would like it to be." For nearly 50 years, he illustrated the covers of The Saturday Evening Post in a rich and emotive style that gave distinctive personalities to his imagined characters. In total, Rockwell created more than 4,000 works of art throughout his life. To get a valuation performed on your artist's proof, use the services of a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of Norman Rockwell art.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 12, 2024What the letters on gold jewelry mean varies. The letter P means that a piece is plumb and contains an exact amount of precious metal. For example, 14P would be plumb 14-karat and contain exactly 58.5% pure gold. GP indicates that the jewelry is gold-plated, while an R represents rolled gold. The meaning of GF is gold-filled, and the letters HGE denote that a piece has heavy gold electroplating. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of gold jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024Many watch brands start with the letter P. One is Patek Philippe. Known for impeccable craftsmanship and some of the most complicated timepieces ever created, the brand is considered by many to be the height of fine watchmaking. Other watch brands whose names begin with P include Pulsar, Paul Picot, Philipp Plein, Panerai, Piaget, Parmigiani Fleurier, Pequignet, Perrelet, Perry Ellis, Praesidus and Purnell. Explore a wide variety of watches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022No, Fendi does not usually use letter sizes for its sweaters and other knitwear. Instead, the brand employs numerical sizes based on the Italian system. For easy shopping, the Fendi website converts Italian to U.S. sizes automatically. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Fendi sweaters.
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