Artist’s proof
Also known as: A.P. · AP · Épreuve d’artiste · E.A.
A small number of impressions outside the main numbered edition, traditionally kept by the artist. Marked “A.P.” on the lower margin instead of a fraction.
An artist’s proof is an impression of a print made outside the main numbered edition. The proof goes to the artist personally — to keep, gift, or sell privately rather than through the gallery. Traditionally proofs were the first impressions pulled from a plate, used to check colour and registration before the formal edition began; today the distinction is conventional rather than technical.
The convention is usually that artist’s proofs make up around 10% of the headline edition size. An edition of 100 might have 10 artist’s proofs; an edition of 50 might have 5. These aren’t part of the “100” the gallery sells — they’re a separate, smaller run with their own identifier.
Proofs are marked differently from the main edition. Instead of a fraction like “12 / 100” the lower margin reads “A.P.” (Anglo-American convention), “AP”, or “E.A.” / “Épreuve d’artiste” (French convention). Some artists also number their proofs (“A.P. 3 / 10”), others don’t.
Why collectors care about artist’s proofs. Two reasons. First, they’re scarcer than the main edition — an A.P. from an edition of 100 is one of about 10 prints, not one of 110, so the per-print scarcity is higher. Second, they have a closer connection to the artist: proofs are typically the ones the artist holds onto longest, and may have personal annotations or be signed differently.
In secondary-market sales an artist’s proof often carries a premium over the regular edition for those two reasons. In primary sales (buying from the gallery), pricing varies — some galleries hold proofs back for their best collectors, others price them identically to the main edition. Where artist’s proofs are available at Clark & Darcey, we list them separately and identify them clearly on the certificate of authenticity.
Common questions about artist’s proof
- What does A.P. mean on a print?
- Artist's proof — a small additional run of impressions outside the main numbered edition, traditionally kept by or sold via the artist directly. Marked "A.P." or "AP" on the lower margin instead of a fraction like "12 / 100". The French equivalent is "E.A." or "Épreuve d'artiste".
- Is an artist's proof worth more than a numbered impression?
- Often yes on the secondary market, for two reasons: artist's proofs are scarcer (typically only 10% of the main edition size), and they have a closer link to the artist personally. In primary sales (buying directly from the gallery), pricing varies — some galleries price proofs identically to the main edition, others charge a small premium.
- How many artist's proofs are usually made?
- Convention is roughly 10% of the main edition size. An edition of 100 might carry 10 artist's proofs; an edition of 50 might carry 5. The convention varies between artists and galleries — some run no proofs at all, others run up to 15-20%.