What is a limited edition photograph?

Art photographers usually make limited edition prints of their work. The artist uses the original negative to make a certain number of prints of a certain measurement. The prototype (usually the original negative) is often destroyed after printing, so that although there are several identical prints, the edition is unique. Edition sizes vary, and may also influence the value of the photograph: a print from an edition size of 500 may have less monetary value than one from an edition of 5.