What is an original print?

The following definition was agreed by the Third International Congress of Arts, held in Vienna in September, 1960, and a version was issued by the Print Council of America in 1961.It is the exclusive right of the artist/printmaker to fix the definitive number of each of his/her graphic works in the different techniques, engraving, lithography etc.

Each print, in order to be considered an original, must bear not only the signature but also an indication of the total edition and the serial number of each print. Once the edition has been made it is desirable that the original plate, stone, woodblock, or whatever material was used in pulling the print edition, should be defaced or should bear a distinctive mark indicating that the edition has been completed.

The above principles apply to graphic works which can be considered originals.  That is to say, to prints for which the artist engraved the original plate, cut the wood-block, worked on the stone or any other material.

Works which do not fulfil these conditions must be considered reproductions.

For reproductions, no regulations are possible.  However, it is desirable that reproductions should be acknowledged as such, and so distinguished beyond question from the original graphic work. This is particularly so when reproductions are of such outstanding quality that the artist, wishing to acknowledge the work materially executed by the printer, feels justified in signing them.

The version of the Print Council of America is similar in its requirements and states:-

An original print is a graphic work of art, the general requirements of which are:-

The artist alone has made the image in or upon the plate, stone, wood-block or other material for the purpose of creating a work of graphic art. The impression is made directly from that original material by the artist or Pursuant to his/her directions.

The finished proof is approved by the artist.