Alex Katz has produced signed and numbered prints for more than seven decades, with editions that can include regular numbered impressions, artist’s proofs, printer’s proofs, hors commerce proofs, bon à tirer proofs and other workshop designations.
These markings help identify which version of a Katz print you own, but a signature, edition number or proof designation should always correspond with the documentation for the specific work.
How Did Alex Katz Sign His Prints?
Many Alex Katz prints are hand-signed in pencil, often in a lower margin, but placement varies by edition.
Sculptural multiples can use different formats, including incised signatures or initials on aluminum components.
The key question is whether the form and placement of the signature correspond with the documented edition.
Does an Alex Katz Signature Prove Authenticity?
No. A convincing signature does not establish that the underlying print is an authentic Katz edition.
The signature should correspond with the documented catalogue reference, medium, dimensions, edition structure and other specifications for the work.
Likewise, the absence of a conventional pencil signature does not automatically indicate a problem when another signing format is documented.
Learn more: How to Authenticate an Alex Katz Print →
How Alex Katz Edition Numbers Work
A number such as 27/100 means that the impression is number 27 from a regular edition of 100.
The number before the slash identifies the individual impression; the number after the slash identifies the size of the regular numbered edition.
A lower number does not automatically make a Katz print more valuable. An impression numbered 3/100 is not inherently worth more than 93/100. Image, edition, scale, condition, provenance and collector demand generally matter more.
What Does AP Mean on an Alex Katz Print?
AP means Artist’s Proof.
Artist’s proofs are impressions outside the regular numbered edition that are traditionally reserved for the artist. They generally correspond to the finished edition rather than representing a different image.
Katz editions frequently include a documented group of AP impressions.
For example:
Ada 1, 2022
Regular edition: 100
Artist’s proofs: 20 AP
The official Katz supplement also documents additional HC, PP, BAT, RTP and TP impressions for the same work.
Older Katz editions can also have substantial artist’s-proof groups. Ada in Hat, 1990, for example, was issued in an edition of 150 plus 30 artist’s proofs.
Other Alex Katz Proof Designations: HC, PP, BAT, RTP & TP
Katz editions can include several proof types outside the regular numbered edition:
HC — Hors Commerce: proofs outside the regular commercial edition, traditionally reserved for the artist, publisher, printer or related purposes.
PP — Printer’s Proof: impressions typically reserved for the printer or workshop.
BAT — Bon à Tirer: the approved proof used as the standard for printing the edition.
RTP — Right to Print: an approval proof authorizing production of the edition.
TP — Trial Proof: an impression created during development of the print, which may differ from the finished edition.
These designations can be entirely legitimate when they correspond with the documented proof structure for the specific Katz edition.
The exact number and type of proofs should always be checked against the catalogue documentation for the particular Katz edition.
Can an Alex Katz Edition Have Several Proof Types?
Yes. A Katz edition can include a regular numbered edition along with several documented proof groups.
For example, Ada 1, 2022 includes a regular edition of 100 as well as documented AP, HC, PP, BAT, RTP and TP impressions.
The phrase “edition of 100” therefore describes the regular numbered edition; documented proofs can exist outside that number.
What Do Roman Numerals Mean on an Alex Katz Print?
Some Katz prints have separately numbered Roman-numeral editions.
Trio, 2017, for example, was issued in a regular edition of 50, a separate Roman-numeral edition of 20, and 6 artist’s proofs.
An inscription such as VII/XX can therefore indicate impression 7 from a separate edition of 20 rather than an artist’s proof.
The catalogue entry for the specific work determines what the Roman numerals mean.
Why the Alex Katz Catalogue Raisonné Matters
The revised Alex Katz Prints: Catalogue Raisonné, 1947–2023 and its official online supplement can document the regular edition, proof structure, signature placement, medium, dimensions, printer and publisher for a Katz work.
A proof designation becomes meaningful only when it corresponds with the documented edition.
Learn more: Alex Katz Catalogue Raisonné: Schröder Print References 1947–2023 & Online Supplement →
Red Flags in Alex Katz Signatures and Edition Numbers
Potential concerns include:
- Printed signature represented as hand-signed
- Edition numbering inconsistent with the catalogue
- Undocumented AP, HC, PP or other proof designation
- Signature placement inconsistent with the edition
- Roman numerals interpreted incorrectly
- Reproduction or poster given a fabricated edition number
- Documentation that conflicts with the physical print
A single discrepancy does not automatically establish that a work is inauthentic, but it should be researched against the documentation for the exact edition.
Buying a Signed Alex Katz Print
Before purchasing, confirm the catalogue reference, signature format, edition size, proof designation, condition and provenance. Do not rely on the signature or edition number alone.
Explore Alex Katz Prints for Sale →
Selling or Evaluating an Alex Katz Print
If you own a signed, numbered or proof Katz print, useful photographs include the front, reverse, signature, edition inscription, publisher marks and existing documentation.
Masterworks Fine Art can review the work’s catalogue information, signature, proof structure, condition and provenance as part of a confidential evaluation.
Request a Confidential Alex Katz Evaluation →
Frequently Asked Questions About Alex Katz Signatures and Editions
Where does Alex Katz usually sign his prints?
Many Katz prints are signed in pencil in the lower margin, but placement varies by edition. Some multiples use incised signatures or initials instead.
Does a lower edition number make an Alex Katz print more valuable?
Generally, no. An impression numbered 3/100 is not inherently more valuable than 93/100 simply because the number is lower.
What does AP mean on an Alex Katz print?
Alex Katz, Ada in Hat, 1990, signed 14-color silkscreen from the edition of 150 plus 30 artist’s proofs.
AP means Artist’s Proof, an impression outside the regular numbered edition traditionally reserved for the artist.
Katz editions frequently include documented artist’s proofs. Ada in Hat, 1990, for example, was issued in an edition of 150 plus 30 artist’s proofs.
An AP can be scarcer than a regular numbered impression, but the designation alone does not guarantee a value premium. The specific image, edition, condition and collector demand remain more important.
Learn more: Alex Katz Print Values & Prices →
Can an HC or PP Alex Katz print be authentic?
Yes. HC and PP impressions are documented in numerous Katz editions. Their designation should match the catalogue information for the specific work.
