Hand-printed botanical lithographs have tell-tale signs of originality.
The botanical art tradition communicates an understanding of plants' structure in a way that's aesthetically pleasing. The introduction of lithography in the early 1800s spurred publication of botanical books, according to the Winterthur Library. An artist creates an original lithograph by drawing reverse images on stone or metal plates. Each color in the image requires a separate drawing on its own plate. The finished images are transferred from the plate onto paper. Collectors can learn to identify botanical lithographs that are original hand prints, as opposed to prints reproduced by an offset process that transfers the images through mechanical means.
Instructions
1. Examine the print for obvious signs that it's a reproduction. Currier & Ives Original Prints suggests looking for such words as "reproduced," "from the collection of," "courtesy of" or "printed in the USA," as well as copyright symbols from book or art publishers.
2. Look for "chops" -- embossed symbols unique to a print shop and printer.
3. Request documentation showing the authenticity of a print that doesn't have chops; originals printed by the artist may not have them, but the vendor may have a certificate of authenticity that proves its originality.
4. Use a magnifying glass or loupe to get a very close-up view of the ink. Look for the tell-tale signs of an original lithograph -- an image made up of randomly spaced dots or of solid, albeit often uneven, tones. Assume that images made of evenly spaced dots are offset reproductions.
5. Search for such signs of original lithographs as pencil signatures and series markings showing what number print a particular lithograph is in a series, but don't accept their existence as absolute proof a lithograph is an original. Marks can be reproduced. Weigh them against other signs of originality or reproduction.
