How important is a signature? What difference does it make if an edition is limited to 75-150 copies? How much is my edition worth today? These are some of the questions we are most frequently asked. LUMAS has specialized in signed and limited art editions because these editions can enter the art market and stand alongside an original that has been signed and certified by an artist. We believe that a signature and a strict limit on the number of copies in circulation are essential characteristics of an edition – with the exception of affordable, small-format open editions.
Once all copies have been sold, a limited original will increase in value as the high demand can no longer be met by supply. The work can now only be acquired through the private art market, such as an auction house. As the auction results below reveal, editions can be just as sought-after as leading gallery works with a comparably small circulation. The most recent auction showed increases in value of at least 150% (a € 2.50 return for every € 1 spent on the purchase price). The average increase in value was 333% (€ 4.33 return for every € 1), with the largest increase in value at 884% (€ 9.84 return for every € 1) – almost ten times the original purchase price in a short amount of time.
LUMAS therefore rewards those who decide to buy early with particularly favorable prices. Just like in the art market, the prices then increase as the levels of bestseller, last prints, or sold are reached. Once these levels have been reached it is increasingly likely an edition will soon be sold out.
The first step, of course, is to decide on an edition that you are personally drawn to. Is it an edition you would like to see inside your own four walls, to appreciate and enjoy every day? There is no guarantee it will increase in value, and this should not be the decisive criterion. It's good to know, however, that over time, and provided the work remains in excellent condition, it may increase in value, and that there is an active market for these works. It's easy to see why art might be the only luxury that actually becomes more valuable.
Selected Auction Results of LUMAS Editions
Artwork Stefanie Schneider SSC08 Radha Doing Her nails by the Pool 1999/2006
LUMAS Price € 439 Size: 100 x 100 cm
Auction Result £ 1,020
Increase in Value 232 %
Date 06.04.2006
Artwork Stefanie Schneider SSC50 Daisy in Front of Trailer 2005/2006
LUMAS Price € 259 Size: 61,5 x 60 cm
Auction Result £ 1,375
Increase in Value 562 %
Date 11.11.2008
Artwork Michel Comte MCO10 Carla Bruni 1993/2007
LUMAS Price € 339 Size: 60 x 60 cm
Auction Result £ 2,250
Increase in Value 728 %
Date 11.11.2008
Artwork Michel Comte MCO10 Carla Bruni 1993/2007
LUMAS Price € 339 Size: 60 x 60 cm
Auction Result € 1.407
Increase in Value 315 %
Date 29.04.2009
Artwork Michel Comte MCO10 Carla Bruni 1993/2007
LUMAS Price € 339 Size: 60 x 60 cm
Auction Result $ 2,812
Increase in Value 465 %
Date 25.10.2008
Artwork Wolfgang Joop WJO30 Black Men´s Fashion - Back from N.Y. 2000/2009
Price LUMAS € 479 Größe: 74 x 54 cm
Auction Result $ 1,949
Increase in Value 214 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Christopher Pillitz CPI13 The Spirit of Tango II, Buenos Aires 1997/2009
Price LUMAS € 630 Größe: 80 x 123 cm
Auction Result $ 2,379
Increase in Value 192 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork David Burdeny DBU02 Pacific Ocean Kashima, Japan 2005/2006
Price LUMAS € 209 Größe: 60 x 60 cm
Auction Result $ 1,059
Increase in Value 291 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork David Armstrong DAR07 Untitled 2004/2007
Price LUMAS € 629 Größe: 120 x 80 cm
Auction Result $ 2,249
Increase in Value 176 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Robert Lebeck RLE25 Joseph Beuys, Schottland 1974 1974/2010
Price LUMAS € 249 Größe: 34 x 49 cm
Auction Result $ 1,450
Increase in Value 350 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Robert Lebeck RLE18 New York 1967 1967/2010
Price LUMAS € 699 Größe: 80 x 120 cm
Auction Result $ 4,069
Increase in Value 350 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Wolfgang Uhlig WUH01 sea #1 2007/2008
Price LUMAS € 1669 Größe: 123,2 x 178 cm
Auction Result $ 5,699
Increase in Value 164 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Olaf Hajek OHA22 African Beauty 2010/2011
Price LUMAS € 259 Größe: 54 x 41 cm
Auction Result $ 1,200
Increase in Value 258 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Penelope Davis PDA18 Stacks green-pink 2010/2010
Price LUMAS € 619 Größe: 100 x 100 cm
Auction Result $ 2,400
Increase in Value 200 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Reinhard Görner RGO04 Alte Nationalgalerie 2001/2006
Price LUMAS € 959 Größe: 100 x 150 cm
Auction Result $ 3,939
Increase in Value 217 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork H.G. Esch HES03 Hong Kong 04 2001/2008
Price LUMAS € 1349 Größe: 150 x 120 cm
Auction Result $ 5,200
Increase in Value 198 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Jaques Olivar JOL12 Skyway over Manhattan #2 2007/2008
Price LUMAS € 729 Größe: 80 x 97,5 cm
Auction Result $ 2,689
Increase in Value 185 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Michel Comte MCO01 Rizzoli Nudes 1998/2007
Price LUMAS € 599 Größe: 80 x 100 cm
Auction Result $ 2,169
Increase in Value 180 %
Date 28.11.2012
Artwork Michel Comte MCO15 Jaime Rishar 1996/2007
LUMAS Price € 599 Size: 85,6 x 105,6 cm
Auction Result $ 7,500
Increase in Value 827 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Frank Darius FDA07 Blüten/rot 2002/2006
LUMAS Price € 339 Size: 50 x 62,5 cm
Auction Result $ 1,299
Increase in Value 184 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Floris M. Neusüss FMN01 O.T. Nudogramm 1969/2004
LUMAS Price € 619 Size: 180 x 50 cm
Auction Result $ 3,500
Increase in Value 319 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Gero Gries GGR01 Bahn 2002/2004
LUMAS Price € 939 Size: 106,5 x 160 cm
Auction Result $ 3,573
Increase in Value 182 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Maurice Scheltens MSC01 Bouquet 7 2005/2006
LUMAS Price € 489 Size: 80 x 102,3 cm
Auction Result $ 1,950
Increase in Value 195 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Youssef Nabil YNA01 My Frida, Kairo 1996/2006
LUMAS Price € 459 Size: 80 x 53,3 cm
Auction Result $ 6,100
Increase in Value 884 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Andreas Kock AKO07 Stalker IV 2006/2007
LUMAS Price € 669 Size: 90 x 120 cm
Auction Result $ 2,259
Increase in Value 150 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Alexander von Reiswitz ARE27 Dschandra 2007/2007
LUMAS Price € 289 Size: 40 x 40 cm
Auction Result $ 1,700
Increase in Value 336 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork David Burdeny DBU07 Pacific Ocean Redondo Beach CA USA 2005/2006
LUMAS Price € 709 Size: 125 x 125 cm
Auction Result $ 4,200
Increase in Value 339 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Frank Stöckel FST09 Eekholt # 5 2003/2005
LUMAS Price € 449 Size: 80 x 96 cm
Auction Result $ 3,600
Increase in Value 494 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork H.G. Esch HES09 Hong Kong 06 2002/2008
LUMAS Price € 519 Size: 80 x 100 cm
Auction Result $ 2,201
Increase in Value 214 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Heinrich Heidersberger HHE01 Tankstelle "Blauer See" 1953/2007
LUMAS Price € 469 Size: 100 x 76,8 cm
Auction Result $ 1,199
Increase in Value 216 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Jaques Olivar JOL02 Elyse 2005/2006
LUMAS Price € 489 Size: 76 x 100 cm
Auction Result $ 1,769
Increase in Value 168 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Han Lei LHA25 Yellow mountain 01 2002/2005
LUMAS Price € 519 Size: 80 x 80 cm
Auction Result $ 2,699
Increase in Value 285 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Larry Yust LYU01 Cité, Line #4 2003/2007
LUMAS Price € 399 Size: 15,5 x 180 cm
Auction Result $ 2,100
Increase in Value 290 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Reinhard Görner RGO12 New York, Public Library 2007/2007
LUMAS Price € 1.179 Size: 75 x 100 cm
Auction Result $ 7,700
Increase in Value 384 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Robert Lebeck RLE19 New York 1967 1967/2010
LUMAS Price € 249 Size: 34 x 49 cm
Auction Result $ 2,100
Increase in Value 525 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Sabine Wild SWI95 NY Projection L 2008/2009
LUMAS Price € 1.619 Size: 120 x 180 cm
Auction Result $ 5,569
Increase in Value 155 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Wolfgang Joop WJO32 Black Beauty - Red Dress 2000/2009
LUMAS Price € 479 Size: 74 x 54 cm
Auction Result $ 5,100
Increase in Value 689 %
Date 22.11.2011
Artwork Hiepler & Brunier HBR28 Big Tank I 2007/2008
For all online orders at LUMAS we guarantee a 14-day return policy
