Consigning Art Prints: How to Maximise Your Sale Price
Selling a print should be as considered a decision as buying one. Whether you are looking to realise a profit, rebalance a collection, or liquidate an estate, how you approach the sale process directly determines the price you achieve. This guide draws on our experience at Hanga House facilitating print transactions to help sellers maximise their return.
When to Sell
Timing matters in the print market. Several factors create favourable selling conditions. Major exhibitions or retrospectives by the artist increase visibility and demand. Strong recent auction results for the same series create confidence among buyers. Seasonal patterns in the auction calendar, with peaks in March, June, October, and November, align with when collectors are most active. And the broader economic environment affects willingness to commit to five and six-figure purchases.
Avoid selling immediately after a price correction or during holiday periods when collector attention is dispersed. If possible, align your sale with a relevant cultural moment, such as an artist exhibition, a documentary release, or a significant anniversary.
Choosing Your Sales Channel
Auction
Auction houses offer public price discovery and access to a broad buyer pool, but charge substantial buyer and seller premiums. Total transaction costs at major auction houses typically reach 25 to 35 percent of the hammer price when both premiums and fees are included. Auction is best suited for rare or high-value works where competitive bidding is likely.
Private Dealer or Gallery
Private dealers offer discretion, personal service, and often faster turnaround than auction. Commission structures vary widely, from 10 to 25 percent. The quality of the dealer's client network directly determines the speed and price of your sale. At Hanga House, our commission is 10 to 15 percent, agreed before listing, with no upfront fees.
Online Marketplace
Online platforms offer broad reach and lower fees but often lack the authentication guarantees and buyer confidence that specialist dealers provide. For works under 5,000 GBP, online platforms can be efficient. For higher-value works, the lack of personal service and authentication infrastructure is a disadvantage.
Preparing Your Work for Sale
Presentation directly affects price. Before consigning, ensure you have the certificate of authenticity and any provenance documentation. Have the work professionally photographed in consistent, neutral lighting. If the work has been framed, confirm the framing is museum-quality and has not caused any damage. If there are condition issues, be transparent. Undisclosed problems discovered during buyer inspection will kill a sale and damage your credibility.
At Hanga House, we handle photography, cataloguing, and condition reporting as part of our consignment service. Sellers simply need to provide the work and its documentation.
Setting the Right Price
Overpricing is the most common seller mistake. A work priced 20 percent above market value will sit unsold while comparable works transact around it. Use recent auction results for the same series and edition size as your baseline. Adjust for condition, provenance, and any distinguishing factors. Be willing to accept a realistic market price rather than holding out for an aspirational number.
At Hanga House, we provide market-data-driven pricing recommendations based on our database of comparable sales. We agree the listing price with you before publication, and we do not list works at prices we do not believe the market will support.
The Hanga House Consignment Process
Our process is designed to be transparent and efficient. Submit your work through our sell page with photos and documentation. Our team reviews and authenticates through our seven-step process. We agree a listing price and commission rate, always 10 to 15 percent. Your work goes live to our collector network. We handle all enquiries, negotiations, and logistics. You receive payment within 14 business days of the buyer's payment clearing.
To consign a work with Hanga House, visit our sell page or email contact@hangahouse.com.