Limited edition (L.E.)

A number of prints struck from one plate, usually at the same point in time. The artist decides on a fixed number of impressions to produce. No further impressions (copies) will be produced later, or an open edition limited only by the number that can be sold or produced before the plate wears. Most modern artists produce limited editions, usually signed by the artist in pencil and numbered (i.e., 67/100) to show the unique number of that particular impression and the total edition size.

All of Jason Phillips' limited edition Giclées are hand-embellished with a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.

Original or Reproduction?

An important distinction is that between editions of original prints, produced in the same medium as the artist worked (eg etching, or lithography), and reproduction prints (or paintings), which are photographic reproductions of the original work, essentially in the same category as a picture in a book or magazine, though better printed and on better paper. These may be marketed as "limited editions" with investment potential (which is rarely realized), and even signed and numbered by the artist. Some knowledge is often required to tell the difference, and the marketing by the art trade can be deceptive. See special edition for coverage of this issue in various fields.

Numbering and Markings

Lower-numbered prints in an edition are sometimes favored as superior, especially with older works where the image was struck until the plate wore out. However the numbering of impressions in fact may well not equate at all to the sequence in which they were printed, and may often be the reverse of it.

In later times, printmakers recognized the value of limiting the size of an edition and explicitly numbering the prints (e.g., a print numbered 15/30 is the fifteenth print in an edition of 30).

The conventions for numbering prints are well-established, but there are other marks to indicate that the print exists outside of an edition. Artist's proofs are marked "A.P." or "P/A"; monoprints and uniquely hand-altered prints are marked "unique"; prints that are gifted to someone, or are for some reason unsuitable for sale, are marked "H.C." or "H/C", meaning "hors de commerce"--not for sale. The printer is also often allowed to take some impressions for themselves, these are marked with "PP". Finally, a master image may be printed, against which the members of the edition are compared for quality; these are signed-off as "bon à tirer", or "BAT" ("good to print" in French). Sometimes the number of the main, public, edition can be rather misleading - representing 50% or less of the total number of good impressions taken.

ref: en.wikipedia.org