FAQ: Your Questions About Limited Edition Prints Answered
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What is a limited edition print?
A limited edition print is produced in a fixed, pre-determined number. Once the edition is sold out, no further prints are made. Each print in the edition is signed and numbered by the artist, creating a documented, authenticated work of art. The number on your print (e.g. 7/50) tells you it is the 7th print from an edition of 50.
What is the difference between a screenprint and a giclée?
Screenprints are made by hand. This means each colour is individually separated and pressed through a mesh screen onto the paper, layer by layer. The process is physical and craft-intensive, and gives screenprints a distinctive graphic quality with a slight tactile presence. Giclée prints are high-resolution archival inkjet prints that allow for greater tonal complexity and painterly detail. Both are produced as limited editions, signed and numbered, on archival materials.
Are Sam Leitch's prints hand-signed?
Yes. Every limited edition print — screenprint and giclée — is hand-signed in pencil by Sam Leitch and individually numbered as part of the edition. The signature is applied to the print itself, not printed.
What does 'archival' mean?
Archival materials are produced to museum standards — designed to resist fading, yellowing, and deterioration over long periods of time. Sam Leitch's screenprints use Mastar archival inks. His giclée prints use archival pigment inks. Both are printed on acid-free fine art paper. When properly framed and kept out of direct sunlight, these works are designed to retain their quality for decades.
What edition sizes are available?
Most of Sam Leitch's screenprint editions are limited to 50 prints, plus a small number of artist proofs (APs). Edition sizes vary by work — some are smaller. Specific edition details are listed on each product page.
What are artist proofs?
Artist proofs are a small number of prints (typically 5, marked 'AP') produced alongside the main edition and retained by the artist. When artist proofs become available for purchase, they are considered the most collectible prints from the edition.
Do the prints come framed?
All prints are sold unframed. Framing options are available for select works — contact us for more information. We recommend framing with museum-grade UV-protective glass to preserve the print's colour and archival integrity over time.
How are prints packaged and shipped?
Prints are either flat-packed with protective layers or carefully rolled and shipped in heavy-duty art tubes, depending on size. Auckland in-person delivery is available, and domestic and international shipping options are offered. Contact us if you have specific shipping requirements.
Will a sold-out edition be reprinted?
No. Once an edition is sold out, it is closed permanently and will not be reprinted. This is a fundamental principle of limited edition collecting — the scarcity is real.
How should I care for my print?
Keep your print out of direct sunlight, which degrades ink over time even in archival works. Frame with museum-grade UV-protective glass. Store unframed prints flat or rolled in a clean, dry environment. Handle prints by the edges or with clean cotton gloves to avoid transferring oils from your hands to the paper surface.
Are limited edition prints a good investment?
Limited edition prints by artists with a consistent, developing body of work have historically held and grown in desirability — particularly when editions are small, materials are archival, and the work is well-documented. That said, the most reliable investment in art is one you also genuinely love: the works that hold personal meaning are the ones that reward ownership over the long term, regardless of market movements.
Can I buy a print as a gift?
Yes. Limited edition prints make considered, meaningful gifts particularly for people who appreciate art, design, and the idea of owning something genuinely rare.
Where can I buy contemporary New Zealand art prints online?
Sam Leitch's full collection of limited edition screen prints and giclée prints is available directly at samleitch.com. Buying directly from the artist ensures authenticity, full edition documentation, and access to works as they are released. Domestic and international shipping is available.
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