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[Verification] Is a collection of 100,000 yen print-equipped works expensive

It's been a while since my last update.

We are currently holding a special edition book fair with prints in store.

We exhibit and sell special edition books in the price range of 6,000 to 100,000 yen, but because we usually sell collections of works, we have received quite a few comments from customers who say they don't know the market price for prints in the first place.

So in this article, I would like to consider what criteria are used to determine the value of a photographic work, and whether a 100,000 yen special edition is expensive.

To state the conclusion first, a 100,000 yen collection of artworks with prints is not cheap, but not expensive either.

To put it more specifically,"Generally speaking, 100,000 yen is not a cheap purchase, but when you take into account the overall value of the work, it may not be too expensive."It will be.

There is probably no need to explain the former any further, so today I will give a quick rundown of the latter, explaining how the value and price of a work of art are determined.

[Photo value]

Unlike paintings and sculptures, photographs can be reproduced as many times as you like from negatives and data. Therefore, the "edition system" is adopted to give works the same originality as other artistic genres.

An edition is an agreement to produce a work in a pre-determined number, thereby guaranteeing the work's authenticity and rarity.

For photographic works, editions of 3 to 5 copies are common, with the most being around 10 copies. The number produced determines the rarity and value of the work, so the fewer the number, the higher the price, and the more the number, the lower the price.

Additionally, the artist's reputation and fame are important, and the final value is determined based on that. As with anything else, the price of a work fluctuates based on the balance of supply and demand. (There are also various other criteria, such as the age of the print, the technique, and the size, but I've omitted them here.)

Framed print from "The Well Special Edition" by Nigel Shafran

In addition to the regular edition of the collection, this fair will feature a special edition with limited edition prints.

To determine its value, I recommend using the following four points as criteria in addition to the indicators mentioned above.

1) How many copies/editions are there?
2) Is the print quality high, and has the artist personally supervised the print (including size and production technique)?
3) Is it signed and numbered?
4. Are the regular and special editions still available on the market?

With the above in mind, let us examine the value of the special edition book with prints by Mark Steinmetz that is on display this time.

[The value of Mark Steinmetz's special edition book]

"Past K-Ville" Special Edition by Mark Steinmetz

American photographer Mark Steinmetz was born in 1961 and studied photography at Yale University. He is an ultra-orthodox American photographer who once accompanied the master of street photography, Garry Winogrand, as his driver for a year.

He has held many solo and group exhibitions at museums, and his works are stored in various collections. He is also currently publishing many photo books, from major publishers to independent publishers. The prices of his works are not disclosed, so it is unknown, but we can assume that they are probably quite expensive.

Now, let's take a look at the special edition being exhibited this time.

1) How many copies/editions are there?
The number of copies issued is limited to 50. Steinmetz has previously published a limited edition of 500 prints, so 50 copies is a very small special edition. Considering that only 50 people in the world can own one, it is quite rare and valuable.

2) Is the print quality high, and is the artist himself supervising the printing?
The publisher's website reveals that although it is not hand-printed, it is a high-quality print produced by a reliable printer, and the size is 230 x 162 mm, which is not a bad size.

3) Is it signed and numbered?
Each one is signed and serial numbered.

4. Are the regular and special editions still available on the market?
Both the regular and special editions of this work are already out of print, and the regular edition is priced at about 80,000 yen by the publisher, and in some places it is priced at over 200,000 yen. The special edition is not for sale anywhere. At this point, you can see that 100,000 yen for a set of framed print and book is an incredible price. The print is actually 10,000 to 20,000 yen. It will probably sell even if you raise the price even more.

Let me summarize the information.

・This artist is a leading figure in the history of American photography.
Regular prints are probably selling for more than double the price.
・The number of copies issued is small, but the value is high.
High quality print and good size
-Signed and numbered by the artist
・Both the regular and special editions are already out of print and highly sought after.

As you can see, 100,000 yen is by no means a high price for this work.

I think if you were to test other collections in the same way, you would get similar results.

Framed print from"Past K-Ville" Special Edition by Mark Steinmetz

If you ask the shop owner if he would normally buy a work that costs 100,000 yen, he would say no. However, the special edition with prints is a chance to purchase a work by an artist you admire together with a collection of works at an affordable price, and it is certainly a rare opportunity for those who are purchasing a work for the first time.

Above all, while a collection of artwork is great, prints that can add impact to the space itself when displayed are also great.

The exhibition will be on until the 30th of this month. We also accept mail orders via email, so please feel free to contact us.

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Special Edition Print Fair
Dates | March 16th, 2024 (Sat), 17th (Sun), 20th (Wednesday, public holiday), 23rd (Sat), 24th (Sun), 25th (Mon), 30th (Sat) *Closed on the 31st (Sun)
Business hours: 11:00-14:00, 15:00-18:00
Venue: IACK 18-3 Takaoka-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, 920-0864
Free admission
Contact: info (at) iack.studio
detail:https://www.iack.online/blogs/news/special-edition-prints-fair
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Delivery delays due to the Noto Peninsula earthquake in 2024

We would like to express our heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by the recent earthquake. We sincerely pray for the speedy arrival of aid to the affected areas and for a speedy recovery.

The IACK online store is accepting orders as usual, however, due to the effects of the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, there may be delays in the delivery of packages by Yamato Transport.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and thank you for your understanding.

Latest Updates:
[Yamato Transport] Regarding package collection and delivery and office operating status
(As of 13:00 on January 5, 2024)
https://www.yamato-hd.co.jp/important/info_221214_1.html

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Basic ways to touch a collection of works



All books are available to be viewed and touched at IACK stores, but many of them are rare collections or old and easily damaged.

However, making such books unavailable seems to me to be denying the fact that these collections are collections of works. If you could understand this and cooperate with us, I believe we could increase the opportunities for people to get their hands on more collections of works.

For your reference, we have created a simple video on how to handle photo books in-store, so please take a look before you visit.

Now on
IACK Collection
Photoooks by Daido Moriyama and Takuma Nakahira
Dates: August 5th (Sat), 6th (Sun), 7th (Mon), 8th (Tue), 11th (Fri), 12th (Sat), 13th (Sun)
Business hours: Weekdays 11:00-16:00 / Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 12:00-19:00
Venue: IACK
[Precautions for visitors] Please refrain from entering if you are not feeling well. In order to minimize damage to the artworks, please disinfect your hands upon entry.
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Why should you pick up the original version



When it comes to anthologies published in recent years, there is little difference between first editions and reprints, but there is a big reason why first editions of anthologies from this era are treated as the "originals."

① The collection is a work
Although works were exhibited at exhibitions at the time, there was little practice of selling prints, so a collection of works was the ultimate goal of the artist.

2. Differences in printing
The photobooks printed on the gravure presses of the time had a thick layer of ink, so thick that even reading them now would leave your hands black with ink. Rather than quality, it seems like there is a big difference in texture.

3. Literally original
In addition to the two reasons above, the original negatives and prints are often no longer in existence, so first editions are used as masters for producing resale books.

The original has its own merits, and the reprint has its own merits. The book will be on display alongside the reprint at the venue, so please come and compare the two.
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Our thoughts on the sample sale

As the Sample Sale nears its end, we hope you've enjoyed exploring the selection.

Though a bit late in the game, we’d like to take a moment to share the background behind IACK’s Sample Sale—why we do it and what exactly “sample” books are—along with some behind-the-scenes context.


What is the Sample Sale?

At IACK, we generally avoid holding sales, out of respect for those who consistently purchase artist books at full price.

That said, we also want more people to experience the joy of encountering and reading these books, and we hope to give our regular customers a chance to enjoy more titles at a lower cost.

With that in mind, we launched the Sample Sale on Culture Day in Japan, offering books that have been used for in-store browsing or that arrived with minor damage during shipping. We intend to help make art books a part of people’s everyday lives.


What Exactly Is a “Sample” Book?

Strictly speaking, artist books don’t really have “sample” copies.

In the kind of small-scale publishing that IACK focuses on, print runs are often just a few dozen copies—and even at their largest, they rarely exceed a few thousand. In some cases, publishers may provide a copy for browsing, but more often, we designate one of the books from our purchased inventory for that purpose. That means the “sample” is a fully paid-for item and one of a very limited number of copies in existence.

This is part of why shops that deal in artist books are especially careful about how books are handled.

Once a book has been used for browsing, we generally can’t sell it as new. (If the book is out of print or in excellent condition, it may be sold at full price. Each store has its own criteria.)

At IACK, we offer such books at a discount during the Sample Sale, labelling them as “sample” items. We also include select rare or secondhand books with modest discounts. For us, it’s a way to find a new home for books that are no longer in pristine condition; for customers, it’s an opportunity to acquire books at special prices.


About Book Condition

We usually place plastic covers on our browsing copies to protect them, but some books are too large, oddly shaped, or textured in a way that would be diminished by a cover. In some cases, we simply don’t have time to cover every book. As a result, many books naturally develop signs of wear—scuffs, creases, and sun fading—over time.

If you’re purchasing for a collection, we recommend buying a new copy. But if your goal is to appreciate the content, sample books are just as suitable.

That said, some are virtually like new, while others have visible wear. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to know more about a specific item’s condition.


On Buying Artist Books

Very few people can afford to buy every book they want to read or own. That’s why browsing in-store is such an important way to engage with photobooks—whether for inspiration or study.

As a store owner, I often browse at other bookshops myself, and IACK welcomes browsing as well. But there’s something entirely different about taking a book home. Reading in your own space, at your own pace, without time constraints or outside distractions, offers a depth of experience that browsing simply can’t replicate.

And the ability to revisit a book again and again, across time, is one of the most powerful reasons to own it.

Although we no longer hold the Sample Sale on Culture Day due to scheduling conflicts with other events, our underlying goal remains the same: to support a culture in which people enjoy artist books as part of everyday life.

The Sample Sale runs until midnight this Wednesday. We hope this serves as an opportunity for you to bring art books a little closer into your daily life.


IACK SUMMER SAMPLE SALE 2023
Saturday, 22 July 0:00 – Wednesday, 26 July 24:00
www.iack.online/collections/summer-sample-sale-2023
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