Buy collectible limited edition prints - What to look for

Signed vs Numbered Prints: What Every Print Collector Needs to Know

Two distinct forms of documentation and why confusing them costs collectors

Signed and numbered are not the same thing. On a limited edition print, each serves a different purpose, and understanding both is essential if you want to know exactly what you're buying.

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What a Signature Means on a Limited Edition Print

An artist's signature is a declaration of individual authenticity. It confirms that the artist reviewed this specific print, judged it to meet their standard, and took direct ownership of it as a genuine work from their practice.

The only meaningful signature is hand-applied in pencil — applied individually to each print. Anything else is a different category of thing:

• A printed signature (embedded in the image) means the artist approved the artwork for reproduction. It does not mean they touched or authenticated this individual print.
• A stamped facsimile carries the same limitation — no provenance value for collectors.

This distinction matters significantly when assessing resale value or insurance documentation. A printed signature adds no authentication to the physical object.

Sam Leitch hand-signs every limited edition print — both screenprints and giclées — in pencil directly on the print. Each piece is individually authenticated, not batch-approved.

Devotion, The Red Dusk - Limited Edition 1-1 Screen Print

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What an Edition Number Means

The edition number — for example, 14/50 — tells you two things:

1. Which print this is in the sequence
2. The total size of the edition — the fixed ceiling on how many will ever exist

Lower numbers are sometimes considered more desirable, based on the idea of being "closer to the original." In screenprinting practice, this has no bearing on quality — each print is pulled individually using the same process, inks, and paper. What the number does confirm is documented scarcity: you know exactly how many of these prints exist in the world.

Edition sizes under 100 are generally considered collectible. Under 50 signals strong scarcity and tends to hold value more reliably over time.

Birdsong II - Limited edition of 50 (4 remaining)

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Artist Proofs — The Most Collectible Prints in Any Edition

Beyond the main numbered run, artists typically set aside a small number of artist proofs — usually 5 to 10 — marked AP or A/P rather than numbered. These are not released as part of the standard edition; they are retained for the artist's own archive.

When artist proofs become available for purchase, they are widely regarded as the most collectible prints in any edition: outside the main run, held directly by the artist, and available only in extremely limited quantities.

Sam Leitch retains a small number of artist proofs from each screenprint edition. 

Nothing for Granted - Resolve is sold out - all editions are gone; however, it is still possible to purchase an artist proof. Contact me directly at hello@samleitch.com.

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What to Check Before Buying a Limited Edition Print

When purchasing a limited edition print from any NZ artist or platform, verify the following:

• Signature method: Is it hand-applied in pencil — not printed into the image or stamped?
• Edition number: Is it clearly marked on the print itself (e.g., 14/50)?
• Edition size: Is it stated and credible? Under 100 for genuine collectibility; under 50 for strong scarcity
• Written confirmation: Is the edition size documented in the product listing — not just implied?

At samleitch.com, all of this is clearly documented on every product page. Edition size, materials, dimensions, and authentication method are listed alongside each print — no ambiguity, no marketing vagueness.