Gauntlet Gallery — Martha Cooper Print Index
Trains & Generations (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Trains & Generations is a 2013 boxed collaborative edition featuring Martha Cooper, Alex Fakso, and Smart B. Limited to 40 and signed and numbered by the artists, it comes housed in a laser-etched and engraved wooden box containing twelve color postcards and one camera film, measuring roughly 22 x 15 x 5 cm as a self-contained collector object.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: EDITION OF 40. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
This is a multi-artist portfolio object rather than a single print, which makes it stand apart in Cooper's catalogue. The edition of 40, the engraved wooden box, and the inclusion of a camera film give it a tactile, archival quality. Bringing together three generations of train and graffiti documentarians, it embodies its own title as a physical artifact.
Collector Perspective
Completeness is critical: the box, all twelve postcards, the camera film, and the artists' signatures must be present and undamaged. The wooden box's laser-etched surface can scuff, so condition of the container matters as much as the contents. At only 40 copies, intact sets are the ones collectors should prioritize when assessing an example.
Historical Context
The title nods to the lineage of train photographers documenting graffiti across decades and continents, from Cooper's foundational New York work to European chroniclers like Alex Fakso. Boxed multi-artist editions became a favored format in street-culture publishing, letting collectors hold a curated cross-generational statement rather than a single image.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2013
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- catalog dimensions 5 x 22 x 15 cm; TWELVE COLOUR POSTCARDS. 1 CAMERA FILM.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: EDITION OF 40.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Martha Cooper's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2013 and attributes the edition to Underdogs.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- The saved release description references: LASER ETCHED AND ENGRAVED WOODEN BOX. Confirm any original sleeve, tube, box, or backing board copy by copy.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Underdogs. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Martha Cooper — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Martha Cooper (Q448601) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
Which artists are involved?
It is a collaboration between Martha Cooper, Alex Fakso, and Smart B, signed and numbered by the artists.
What does the edition include?
A laser-etched and engraved wooden box containing twelve color postcards and one camera film.
How large is the edition?
It was released in an edition of 40.
What are the dimensions?
The boxed set measures roughly 22 x 15 x 5 cm.
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