Reproductions, posters and reprints
Many works in homes and estates are reproductions. Recognising one early saves time – and some reproductions do have a modest collector's value.
A reproduction copies an existing work by photomechanical or other means. Unlike an original print, it is not made from a matrix the artist created for printing. Posters, offset prints, giclées and canvas prints are reproductions – even when they carry the artist's name or a printed signature.
Not all reproductions are worthless. Early exhibition posters, rare reprints of architectural portfolios, hand-carved Japanese reproductions and period-specific ephemera can be collected. But they belong to a different, usually much lower, price range than originals.
What kinds of reproductions are there?
Offset prints and posters
Printed in large numbers on printing presses – recognisable by regular dot patterns.
Giclées and canvas prints
Inkjet prints on paper or canvas, sometimes sold as «limited editions».
Exhibition and gallery posters
Printed for exhibitions; early and rare ones can have a modest collector's value.
Re-carved woodblock reproductions
New blocks cut after old Japanese designs – handmade, but not original impressions.
Reprints and blueprints
Later editions of portfolios, books and copies of architectural drawings.
Stickers and ephemera
Flyers, stickers, invitations and merchandise – part of the culture, rarely of high value.
What drives the value
- Rarity: Early and rare posters or reprints can be collected; mass-produced decorations cannot.
- Age: Period posters printed at the time of the exhibition are worth more than later reprints.
- Condition: Folds, tears and fading matter a lot when the base value is low.
- Signature: A hand signature on a poster can add value – if it is genuine and documented.
How to check what you have
- Dot pattern: A magnifier reveals the regular dots of offset printing or the fine spray of inkjet prints.
- Paper and surface: Glossy, uniform paper and a flat surface without relief point to a reproduction.
- Printed text: Copyright lines, printers' names or museum credits in the margin indicate a reproduction.
- Price: An «original» by a famous name at a very low price is almost always a reproduction.
Reproductions by the artists in our guides
How this type of work looks in the market of individual artists – with links to their full profiles, auction records and authenticity checks.
André Saraiva
Stickers and ephemera: Produced in large numbers – part of the culture, rarely of high value.
Katsushika Hokusai
Reproductions: Newly carved blocks after his designs, from the Meiji era until today – made by hand, but a different market.
Posters and offset prints: Photomechanical copies of the Great Wave – decorative, without collector value.
Utagawa Hiroshige
Reproductions: Newly cut blocks after his designs – common for the famous Edo views.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Reprints: Later editions of the portfolio, e.g. 1963 – decorative and affordable.
Blueprints: Copies of drawings; interesting for specific houses, but not original drawings.
Hugh Ferriss
Prints: Reproductions of his renderings – some rare and collected.
Questions
Is my poster worth anything?
Most posters are decorative. Early exhibition posters, rare editions and posters with a genuine hand signature can have a modest collector's value.
What is a giclée?
A high-quality inkjet print. Even when sold as a numbered «limited edition», it is a reproduction, not an original print.
How can I tell a reproduction from an original?
Look through a magnifier: regular dot patterns, a flat surface and printed signatures point to a reproduction.
Not sure if you have an original or a reproduction?
Photograph the front, the back and any marks, signatures or seals, and get a free estimate. For insurance, a sale or an estate, order an appraisal with a notarized signature.
This guide explains general market rules. It is not an appraisal; the value of a specific work depends on its artist, condition and provenance.