Prints to be mounted

Here are some other points and terms that you might find interesting.

Some photographers see it as important to sign and date their work while for others the image itself is the signature. However, over time authentification of a work can be difficult to establish and some artists keep a register of works sold and address of buyers to keep contact for future exhibitions etc. Or to request a loan for an institution run show.

Attribution.

An attribution is an authoritative statement that an unsigned photograph can be said confidently, but not definitely, to have been made by a specified photographer on the grounds of stylistic affinity to signed works by that maker and or other compelling evidence.

Blind stamp.

This kind of stamp is an identification mark embossed onto the mount to which a photograph has been attached. Less frequently, the blind stamp appears on the photograph itself. The stamp's raised or depressed letters usually spell the name and address of the photographer. As no ink is used, the stamp is less visible than a wet stamp. While this was mainly used in the 19 Century some contemporary photographers have used the technique.

Wet stamp.

This is an identifying mark made by a photographer, collector, distributor, publisher, or institution an is applied with an inked stamp to a photograph, RECTO or VERSO, in order to assert authorship, ownership, or copyright. Wet stamp are occasionally useful in determining provenance.

Inscription.

This is referred to as anything written or other wise marked on the front (recto) or back (verso) of a photograph, its mount or less frequently its mat. Inscriptions can consist of the photographer's signature or blind stamp/ wet stamp and any other writing marks or comments. They can also be made by someone else entirely, for example a dedication by one friend to another. They can be incidental to the work or can become an integral part of it. As a work can carry any inscription with it, it is wise to consider what any inscription might be.

Variant.

A variant is an image that is very closely related to, but not the same as, a known image, as when a photographer makes a second horizontal, photograph of a scene that was first photographed vertical, without significantly changing lighting and exposure. Also these two images are presumably done during the same shooting session. A variant may also occur when a photographer prints from the same negative twice but chooses to markedly alter the tonal contrast. With modern cameras, roll film etc the potential for variants has multiplied, but the photographer must choose to print the two versions of an image to create an actual variant.

Vintage print.

A vintage print is one made during the period that the photographer was engaged in the related project rather than one made at a much later date for some other reason. They are generally considered much more valuable. Often the difference between the two can tell us about the change in attitude, mood etc of the photographer. Bill Brandt for instance was staggered to see how depressed he was when he looked back at his early work because of the extreme contrast.

Sometimes galleries will show several examples of the same work printed over different time and using slightly different methods. An example of this was an exhibition of Fay Godwin's that I saw in London where they had the Vintage print, a contemporary print, and photogravure prints made from the later prints all as part of the same exhibition.