Not every vintage print is a cheap poster. Hand-pulled etchings and lithographs are real works of art made by printmakers, and they can be very collectible. Here's how to tell what you have.
What Is an Etching?
An etching is made by drawing into a wax coating on a metal plate, then dipping the plate in acid, which bites the lines into the metal. Ink is pushed into those grooves, the surface is wiped clean, and damp paper is pressed onto it under heavy pressure. Engravings, drypoints and aquatints are close relatives made in a similar way.
What Is a Lithograph?
A lithograph is drawn with a greasy crayon or ink on a flat stone or metal plate. Because oil and water don't mix, ink sticks only to the drawing. The surface stays flat, so there are no grooves. Many vintage posters and advertising prints are lithographs, as are fine art prints signed by artists.
How to Tell Them Apart
- The plate mark: an etching is pressed so hard that the edge of the metal plate leaves an embossed rectangle around the image. Lithographs usually don't have one. (Watch out: some reproductions fake it.)
- Raised ink: on an etching, the ink sits slightly raised on the paper, and you can sometimes feel it or see it in raking light. Lithograph ink lies flat.
- The lines: etchings are built of crisp, fine lines and crosshatching. Lithographs look softer, like crayon, pencil or wash drawings, with smooth tones.
- Under a magnifier: lithographs show irregular, grainy texture. Even lines and solid ink point to an etching. A regular grid of tiny dots means it's a modern photomechanical reproduction, not a hand-pulled print.
Signatures and Numbers
- Pencil signature: fine art prints are often signed in pencil below the image. A signature printed in the image itself (a "plate signature") doesn't count as hand signed.
- Edition numbers: a number like 25/100 means the 25th print of an edition of 100. "A.P." means artist's proof.
- Titles and notes: some artists pencil in a title or note like "imp." (meaning they printed it themselves).
Clues on the Paper
- Good handmade paper often has deckled (rough) edges, and may show a watermark when held up to light.
- Old prints that were trimmed into the image, or that have water stains or brown spots (foxing), are less valuable.
- Gallery labels and framer's stickers on the back can help with dating and provenance.
Caring for Vintage Prints
- Keep prints out of direct sunlight, which fades ink and yellows paper.
- Use acid-free mats and backing when reframing.
- Don't try to clean stains or foxing yourself; a paper conservator can help with valuable prints.
Learn how to tell paintings from prints in our guide Oil, Acrylic or Print?, and browse our vintage home decor collection.
See it in person: vintage prints and wall art in the shop
Each one is a single piece, so when it's gone, it's gone.
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