WHAT IS AUTHENTICATION?
On page 127 in the Seventh Edition of Black`s Law Dictionary, "authentication" is defined as: "Broadly, the act of proving that something (as a document) is true or genuine, esp. so that it may be admitted as evidence."

Here are five independent documented definitions that confirm the perspective that lithographs are original works of visual art created by an artist:
 
1. In U.S. Custom`s April 2006 An Informed Compliance Publication titled Works of Art, Collector`s Pieces Antiques, and Other Cultural Property, it states: "The expression original engravings, prints and lithographs means impressions produced directly, in black and white or in color, of one or of several plates wholly executed by hand by the artist, irrespective of the process or of the material employed by him, but excluding any mechanical or photomechanical process."

2. In A GUIDE TO THE COLLECTING AND CARE OF ORIGINAL PRINTS sponsored by the The Print Council of America and authored by Carl Zigrosser and Christa M. Gaehde, the authors write: "An original print is a work of art, the general requirements of which are: a. The artist alone has created the master image in or upon the plate, stone, wood block or other material, for the purpose of creating the print.  b. The print is made from the said material, by the artist or pursuant to his directions.  c. The finished print is approved by the artist."
 
3. In The Fifth Edition of the Artist`s Handbook of Materials and Techniques authored by Ralph Mayer, the author writes:  "The major traditional graphic-arts processes of long standing and continued popularity are lithograph, etching, drypoint, woodcutting or wood engraving, aquatint, and soft-ground etching. ...The term `graphic arts` excludes all forms of mechanically reproduced works photographed or redrawn on plates; all processes in which the artist did not participate to his or her fullest capacity are reproductions."
 
4. In The Tamarind Book of Lithography: Art & Techniques, it states: "Any lithograph printed from a stone or plate conceived and executed by the artist is an original lithograph..."
 
5. On the International Fine Print Dealers Association`s 2008 www.printdealers.com/learn.cfm website, "lithography" is defined as: "Literally, `stone drawing,` the artist draws or paints the composition on the flat surface of a stone with a greasy crayon or liquid. The design is chemically fixed on the stone with a weak solution of acid and gum arabic. In printing, the stone is flooded with water which is absorbed everywhere except where repelled by the greasy ink. Oil-based printer`s ink is then rolled on the stone, which is repelled in turn by the water soaked areas and accepted only by the drawn design. The stone is then run through the press with paper under light pressure, the final print showing neither a raised nor embossed quality but lying entirely on the surface of the paper."

WHAT IS A WORK OF VISUAL ART?
On U.S. Copyright Law`s www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html101 website, under  101. Definitions,   a "work of visual art" is defined as:  "(1) a painting, drawing, print or sculpture, existing in a single copy, in a limited edition of 200 copies or fewer that are signed and consecutively numbered by the author, or, in the case of a sculpture, in multiple cast, carved, or fabricated sculptures of 200 or fewer that are consecutively numbered by the author and bear the signature or other identifying mark of the author."

I hope the enclosed will assist artists, art dealers and consumers alike to understand the choices they may have. To learn more about these issues of authenticity and disclosure, please link to: http://garyarseneau.blogspot.com

Gary Arseneau
artist, creator of original lithographs, scholar & author