When a photographer releases a new image as a limited edition print, test prints are made, often in different sizes or on different types of paper before an edition is created.
These pre-edition prints are known as Artist Proofs.
The number of artist proofs created is usually 10% of the size of an edition i.e. if an edition is 50 there is likely to be 5 artist proofs.
Often once the edition is sold out, these numbered or un-numbered Artist Proofs are sold for an end-of-edition price.
Being customised or rare they are often highly collectable.
Bruce Springsteen performing in 1973 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia as the opening act for Chicago.
Bruce Springsteen performing in 1973 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia as the opening act for Chicago.
Bruce Springsteen performing in 1973 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia as the opening act for Chicago.
Bruce Springsteen at his first photo shoot at Columbia Records, New York in 1973
Bruce Springsteen at his first photo shoot at Columbia Records, New York in 1973
Madonna at the start of her career in October 1982 in Greenwich Village, New York
Madonna on an early photo shoot in Grenwich Village, New York in October 1982.
An early shot of Madonna taken in October 1982 in Soho, New York City.
Madonna in October 1982 photographed outside St Anthony's Church in New York.
Madonna in October 1982 on one of her earliest photo shoots in Soho, New York
Madonna posing on Greenwich Street, New York on an early photo shoot in October 1982
Madonna in October 1982 photographed on Houston Street, New York
In the studio in Santa Monica, California in 1980, Bob Dylan is captured whilst leaning on his guitar case.
Angus Young, from AC/DC, captured in a small street outside a press meeting in Copenhagen in 1977
Early shot of The Fall at Central Station Car Park, Manchester in the summer of 1978
Shooting promotional films for the singles Rain & Paperback Writer at Chiswick Park Gardens in May 1966
Prince was a musical innovator known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, extravagant dress sense and unique vocal range.
Squeeze are a British band formed in Depford, London in 1974 that came to prominence during the new wave period of the late 1970s.
Ian Dury was an English rock and roll singer-songwriter, bandleader, artist, and actor who first rose to fame during the late 1970s.
David Gilmour is a guitarist, vocalist and writer with the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, but is also renowned for his solo work.
Jill Furmanovsky is one of the greatest ever rock & roll photographers with a huge archive of iconic shots of the world's best music artists
We are all still reeling from the tragic loss of David Bowie. Here is a wonderful tribute from one of our photographers, Mark Mawston.
Our contact sheet collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
Check out our great range of authentic fine art photographic prints available for £250 or less.
