First of all, what does an ‘EP’ or ‘PP’ following the series number mean? Our pieces have these letters, but an employee at a gallery was saying something about them indicating the series.
Also, what exactly is a lithograph as opposed to a print?
At an auction about a year ago, we decided to bid on two Robert Bateman lithographs. According to our research, they are very rare. We’d like to get them appraised, but want to ensure it’s worth it before we take them in. If they are what we think they are, they’re worth about 1000% what we paid!
In the last two weeks, on eBay, there have been 303 Robert Bateman prints listed for auction. About 1/3 sold, between $50 and $175 or so, with most under $100.
Lithography - Printing process from a prepared flat stone, metal or plastic plate. A drawing is made on the surface with a crayon or tusche (black liquid used most with a brush or pen, lithographic ink), then washed with water. When ink or pigment is applied to the plate, it sticks to the greasy sections of the plate (represented by the crayon or tusche) allowing a print to be made. The artist or a print maker under the artist’s supervision then covers the plate with paper or fabric and runs it through a press. Color is transferred. Each color is applied by a seperate plate in the process.
EP - “editor’s proof” - A print impression reserved for the editors, or cromists, who assisted in the creation of the edition with the artist.
PP - “printer’s proof” - These pieces are designated for the printers or printing studios (atelier). They are usually released after the regular edition and other proofs are sold out.
samclem, these two peices of art, according to two sources, are within the top five pieces by Bateman. They are both lithographs, which are more rare, apparently.
While waiting for responses, we received our appraisal and they are worth quite a bit more then we purchased them for.
The first (I believe it is ‘Streatching Goose’) we bought for $500, and it is worth approx. $6500. The second (I can’t recall the name, but it is of a polar bear in a white out snow storm) we bought for $525 and is worth approx. $7500.
ETA: I made a horrible math/typo up there. They appoximate true value vs. purchased value is not 1000%! I wish!
Are these the prints? Number one looks like the bear you describe, xcroll down near the bottom for ‘stretching goose’: http://www.galleryone.com/bateman_s.htm
Editor’s and printer’s proofs may not have numbers at all since they are totally separate from the main run of xxx/yyy copies. You may at times see a low number (1 of 15 or whatever) but that will be a separate sequence.