How to Prepare an Art Print for an Appraisal
Good preparation helps an appraiser identify the correct edition, define the assignment and spend time analyzing the market rather than chasing basic facts.
Explain why you need the appraisal
State the intended use—such as insurance, estate planning, equitable distribution, donation, sale planning or general information—and the relevant date. Intended use affects the appropriate market, research and report.
Create a complete photo set
- Full front and back
- Signature, edition number and title
- Publisher marks, blind stamps and watermarks
- Labels, inscriptions and certificates
- Frame and visible mounting
- Close-ups of stains, fading, tears or other condition issues
Use even light, keep the camera square to the object and include a ruler where scale matters.
Record facts and history
Provide image, sheet and framed dimensions; medium if known; purchase date and source; price paid; ownership history; invoices; prior appraisals; conservation records; and related correspondence. Separate what is documented from family history or attribution.
Do not create damage while preparing
Do not remove a brittle, tightly sealed or permanently mounted work merely to photograph it. Do not clean the sheet or erase marks. Ask the appraiser whether an in-person inspection is required and whether a conservator or framer should assist with opening the frame.