Any rules of thumb for buying prints?

[floatee]

I'm very new to this world of pieces of paper but the prints I've bought so far (a banksy, a parla, a mau mau) I've bought both because I love the image *and* because I'm hopeful that I won't loose money on the purchase (the mau mau excepted, maybe). That might be deluded thinking, but it's what helps get me over the hump to actually buy the things I buy.

But I wonder if there aren't certain rules of thumb regarding prints and *potential* future value. Like: only buy signed. Or, only buy when the edition is 100 or less. Or only buy prints from such-and-such an artist? Or, don't buy prints, you knucklehead, save that money and buy an og or at least an ap. Or -- I dunno ... anything else?

I guess what I'm asking is, how to stack the odds in my favor, eventho there's no way of telling or knowing.

thanks!

[floatee]

nothing? no one? awwwww come on!

[origo]

I think the considerations you´ve done yourself pretty much answers your own questions.

There´s no such thing as a safe buy in this world, especially not prints. I used to collect prints but switched to originals due to the fact that some paintings are actually cheaper than prints and this way I know that I have an original work and not a mass produced copy of an original.

Good old advice, buy what you like. This way you´ll make sure that if the print is worth shit in 10 years, at least the image appeals. Make sure having provenance for the stuff you buy though.

Good luck with it.

[prescriptionart]

Spend some time working out what you like before diving in & spending loads of money.

Don't pay attention to people on forums getting excited about things that you think are crap.

The more hyped an artist is the more money you'll pay. If they've only been around for 6 months they might disappear in 6 months!

I don't see any value in buying an AP unless it's different from the standard run.