Navigating a fair in which much of the art is stored in bins can be a bit daunting for the novice print collector, who may still be trying to sort out exactly what the difference is between etching, aquatint and drypoint. For advice, we turned to Robert Flynn Johnson, Curator Emeritus of the Achenbach Foundation Collection of Works on Paper in San Francisco. Johnson estimates that in a 32-year career he has purchased around 10,000 prints for the museum. (He’s also a collector on his own behalf.)

The first thing to remember, says Johnson, is that the Print Fair is not like other fairs: "Many of the dealers have a dozen or two dozen prints on the walls, but 100 to 150 in marked bins. If you walk into the fair and try to look at everything, you’re going to come out brain-dead. Decide what you’re interested in and then find the specialist dealers. Seasoned collectors know the dealers."

It’s easy to get sidetracked and overwhelmed, Johnson warns. "You have to be very disciplined. If you’re really interested in late 19th-century French prints, you should only wander into those booths that seem to have that material; if you get drawn away, you will never finish." In fact, he says, it’s a good idea to plan to visit the fair twice, because there’s just too much material to absorb in one round. And focus on the bins, not on the walls. "You should know that the dealers very often put their flashiest and most expensive works on the wall," says Johnson. "They like to be able to say, ‘Look what I’ve got, a rare Picasso proof.’ But there could be a very beautiful print for $900 or $1,000 in a bin."

Another vital thing to keep in mind is that prints are what Johnson calls "multiple originals." If the one you want is sold, another impression may become available in the future. "Get the catalogue; that’s very important," says Johnson. "Write notes about prices on the dealer’s page, and stay in touch with the dealer."

His last piece of advice, he says, "may be a bit controversial: If you are a novice, hesitate to buy a work of art on impulse, even if the dealer says it will be gone by the end of the week. Remember, they are multiple originals. And I’d rather see a collector have building enthusiasm than buyer’s regret. As a curator over the years, I’ve learned that the first $100 you spend collecting prints should be spent on books about prints." Johnson’s favorite guide? A. Hyatt Mayor’s "Prints and People," first published in 1952 and still in print from Princeton University Press.