Collectors researching an original Roy Lichtenstein print will frequently encounter two important catalogue raisonné references: a Corlett number and an RLCR number.
Mary Lee Corlett’s catalogue raisonné remains the established reference for Lichtenstein’s prints, while the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation’s online Roy Lichtenstein Catalogue Raisonné (RLCR) provides the current digital record and retains Corlett numbers as alternate references.
Together, these references can help confirm a print’s title, date, medium, dimensions, edition size, paper, printer, publisher, proof structure, signature placement and workshop markings. A catalogue number identifies a documented work or edition; it does not by itself authenticate an individual impression.
Expert review: by Robert Ubillus Adelman, Owner & Director of Masterworks Fine Art, with decades of experience buying, selling and evaluating original modern and contemporary prints.
1. What Is the Roy Lichtenstein Print Catalogue Raisonné?
The principal published reference for Lichtenstein’s prints is Mary Lee The principal published reference for Lichtenstein’s prints is Mary Lee Corlett’s The Prints of Roy Lichtenstein: A Catalogue Raisonné 1948–1993.
The first edition appeared in 1994, followed by an expanded second edition in 2002, published by Hudson Hills Press in association with the National Gallery of Art.
Corlett documented 311 editioned prints and posters, along with additional posters, announcements and other printed works.
In October 2023, the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation launched the comprehensive online Roy Lichtenstein Catalogue Raisonné (RLCR), documenting more than 5,500 works across all media. Its print and poster entries build on Corlett’s research while incorporating later scholarship and newly documented works.
2. What Is a Corlett Number?
A Corlett number identifies a particular print or poster in Mary Lee Corlett’s catalogue raisonné.
For example:
Corlett 103
identifies Lichtenstein’s Modern Print, 1971.
The Roy Lichtenstein Foundation’s current catalogue records Modern Print as Corlett 103 / RLCR 1991, along with its medium, dimensions, edition size, paper, signature placement, Gemini G.E.L. workshop markings and production information.
Corlett numbers remain widely used by auction houses, museums, dealers and collectors when identifying and cataloguing Lichtenstein prints.
3. What Is an RLCR Number?
RLCR is the numbering system used by the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation’s online catalogue raisonné.
Each documented edition receives an RLCR number, while established Corlett numbers are retained as alternate references for prints.
For example:
Modern Print, 1971
Corlett 103
RLCR 1991
Both numbers identify the same documented work through different catalogue systems.
4. Why Do Both Corlett and RLCR Numbers Matter?
Corlett remains the established historical reference for Lichtenstein prints, while RLCR provides the Foundation’s current digital catalogue.
Using both references can make research more precise and allows collectors to compare:
- Older auction records
- Museum records
- Dealer catalogues
- Published print references
- Current Foundation research
For a collector, seeing both Corlett 223 / RLCR 3708, for example, immediately connects an older print-market reference with the current digital catalogue entry for Imperfect 67 5/8" x 91 1/2".
5. What Can a Corlett or RLCR Reference Confirm?
Depending on the work, the catalogue entry may document:
- Full title
- Date
- Series
- Medium
- Paper
- Image dimensions
- Sheet dimensions
- Edition size
- Artist’s proofs
- Other proof designations
- Printer
- Publisher
- Signature and numbering placement
- Blindstamps
- Workshop numbers
- Production details
This is particularly valuable with technically complex Lichtenstein prints.
For example, Imperfect 67 5/8" x 91 1/2" is documented as a woodcut, screenprint and collage on three-ply Supra 100 paper, with a regular edition of 45 plus several categories of proofs and Gemini G.E.L. workshop markings.
6. Why Can a Roy Lichtenstein Print Have Multiple Catalogue Numbers?
A Roy Lichtenstein print can legitimately carry several reference numbers because different catalogues, publishers and print workshops developed their own numbering systems.
A Gemini G.E.L. edition may carry:
- Corlett number
- RLCR number
- Gemini workshop number
- National Gallery of Art Gemini catalogue reference
For example, Imperfect 67" x 79 7/8", 1988, is documented as:
RLCR 3709
Corlett 222
Gemini 87-1155
NGA Gemini CR 31.96
The work also carries Gemini G.E.L. front and reverse workshop markings.
Using multiple references together can make identification more precise and help connect Foundation, museum, auction and workshop records.
7. Does a Corlett or RLCR Number Prove Authenticity?
No. A catalogue number identifies a documented work or edition; it does not independently authenticate the physical impression being examined. The artwork should still correspond with the catalogue entry in medium, paper, dimensions, edition information, signature, printer or publisher, workshop markings and other documented characteristics.
Learn more: How to Authenticate a Roy Lichtenstein Print →
8. Are Posters and Reproductions Included in the Lichtenstein Catalogue Raisonné?
Yes, but classification matters. Corlett documented original editioned prints as well as selected posters, announcements and other printed works. The Foundation’s online catalogue retains much of this documentation while omitting reproductions from the primary print catalogue where appropriate and adding prints documented through later research.
A documented Lichtenstein poster is therefore not automatically the same thing as an original limited-edition print. Collectors should identify the exact catalogue classification before assessing authenticity or value.
9. Why Catalogue References Matter When Buying a Lichtenstein Print
A correct catalogue reference helps buyers understand exactly what is being offered.
It becomes particularly important when researching:
- Closely related images
- Different editions
- Artist’s proofs
- Printer’s proofs
- Posters
- Complex mixed-media works
- Works with multiple workshop references
Before purchasing, compare the physical artwork with the documented catalogue entry rather than relying solely on the title, seller description, signature or edition number.
Explore the Roy Lichtenstein Catalogue Raisonné →
Buying a Documented Roy Lichtenstein Print
Collectors should confirm that the title, catalogue references and physical characteristics of a Lichtenstein print correspond with the documented edition before purchasing.
Before purchasing a Lichtenstein print, confirm that its title, catalogue references, edition information and physical characteristics correspond with the documented edition.
Explore Roy Lichtenstein Prints for Sale →
Selling or Researching a Roy Lichtenstein Print
If you own a Roy Lichtenstein print and do not know its Corlett or RLCR reference, photographs of the front and back, signature, edition number, blindstamps and publisher or workshop markings can help begin the identification process.
Request a Confidential Evaluation of Your Roy Lichtenstein →
Frequently Asked Questions About Roy Lichtenstein Catalogue References
What is a Corlett number on a Roy Lichtenstein print?
A Corlett number identifies a print or poster in Mary Lee Corlett’s authoritative catalogue raisonné of Lichtenstein’s prints.
What is an RLCR number?
An RLCR number is the reference assigned to a work in the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation’s current online catalogue raisonné.
Do Roy Lichtenstein prints have both Corlett and RLCR numbers?
Many do. The current digital catalogue assigns RLCR numbers while retaining established Corlett numbers as alternate print references.
Where can I look up a Roy Lichtenstein RLCR number?
RLCR numbers can be searched through the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation’s online catalogue raisonné. Entries may include the work’s title, date, medium, dimensions, edition information, inscriptions, provenance and alternate catalogue references such as Corlett numbers.
Does a Corlett or RLCR number prove authenticity?
No. The catalogue reference identifies the documented work or edition. The physical print should still correspond with its documented characteristics.
Explore More About Roy Lichtenstein Prints
Roy Lichtenstein Prints for Sale
Explore original Roy Lichtenstein prints from important periods and series.
How to Authenticate a Roy Lichtenstein Print
Learn how to research a Lichtenstein print using its Corlett and RLCR references, signature, edition information, paper, dimensions and provenance.
Roy Lichtenstein Print Values & Prices
Learn what determines the value of a Lichtenstein print and how rarity, condition, series and collector demand affect price.
Most Valuable Roy Lichtenstein Prints
Discover Roy Lichtenstein’s most valuable prints, including major works from Water Lilies, Nudes and Reflections, with recent auction results and the factors that drive collector demand.
Roy Lichtenstein Signatures, Edition Numbers & Proofs
Understand Lichtenstein signatures, numbered editions, artist’s proofs, printer’s proofs and workshop markings.
Roy Lichtenstein Catalogue Raisonné
Research individual Lichtenstein prints by established Corlett catalogue reference.
Sell a Roy Lichtenstein
Own a Roy Lichtenstein artwork? Request a confidential evaluation from Masterworks Fine Art.
