[pure-silver] Re: numbering prints?

  • From: Shannon Stoney <sstoney@xxxxxxx>
  • To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2006 08:32:50 -0500

The reality of limited editions was pointed out very clearly by David Vestal a few years ago. He did a personal survey of something like 200-300 photographers that sold prints. The average number of prints sold by those not limiting editions was 5 per image. The average sold out of limited editions was 35 per image. So a collector can be sure that the worst way to try to buy a rare item, by a factor of seven, is to buy from a limited edition. This of course would vary with stars created by publicity, like Mann. And as long as the Greater Fool Theory thrives, investments like this will pay off.

Remember that the perception of market value is established by galleries, independent of quality or suitability for viewing without vomiting. You have to play by their rules if you want to play in their game. If you can stomach marketing ploys like adding artificial rarity by limiting editions in order to increase sales or prices, it apparently works.


I liked the very expensive Sally Mann prints that I saw, but I thought they were over priced. I could view them without vomiting. But I looked at one of her books the other day--the one called Deep South-- and had a hard time reading her overwrought prose without feeling queasy. Also, although some of the images were very good, some were downright bad and I wondered why they were in there. Maybe they are better in person.

I kind of wonder why she is such a hot commodity.

--shannon



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