Digital BW, The Print

From my small and peripheral experience.

The idea of editioning prints for photographers like Stieglitz, 
Weston, Sommer or Callahan was an intrusion.  Adams editioned some 
things and then broke the edition - I could be wrong.

Vintage is more what some of you are responding to.  Loosely defined 
as an image printed within a couple of (5) years of the image being 
made.  An archeological outgrowth of our fascination with "what was 
it like..."

Each of the artists above believed in making the most beautiful print 
they possibly could.  I know some, if not all, bemoaned not being 
able to have the material do what they desired and were waiting for a 
product to become available (look in archives of correspondence).  
Our modern equivalent would be archival inks, paper surface, 
resolution, drivers, profiles, etc.

The image must be well crafted.  Period.
Even if 'well crafted' looks like hell because you want it to.

Most 'artists' will be lucky if they sell more than 20 of any one 
image.  If you sell thousands, then bless you and the marketing plan 
that assisted you in the endeavor.  Volume is usually made up by 
price.  Choose your path and stick with it.

Editioning does do something.  It rewards the earlier collector which 
gets both the price off the floor and the artist something to eat.  
It also rewards artist and collector as it goes if the prices 
escalates through the edition.  Simple logic for the social contract.

Here in my home, we don't worry about editions.  Things evolve and 
there are plenty of limiting factors already in place in the world.

I'm afraid I've responded narrowly & without justified experience but 
sincerely,

Cleavis in AZ