Step Into Freedom

In 2025, The Artists Gallery and Mark Peters are launching a special collector’s edition — part of the original series of 50 — in an exclusively designed, handcrafted presentation box. Each box contains:

A signed and numbered limited edition print, framed in sustainably sourced Kiaat wood with museum-grade glass
A Certificate of Authenticity, personally signed by Mark Peters
A curated information portfolio detailing the story behind the photograph, Mark Peters’ career, and the original camera used to capture the moment

The presentation itself is a work of art — the black archival box is tailored to protect and elevate the historical value of its contents, offering collectors not just a print, but a museum-worthy piece of living history.

Each of these exceptional sets is available for US$4,600 (excluding VAT) and offered exclusively through The Artists Gallery in Cape Town. With only a few of the 50 limited edition pieces remaining, this release represents a rare and powerful opportunity to own one of the most significant photographic documents of the 20th century.

SKU: N/A Category: Limited Edition Print Product ID: 29775

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Shipping Info

Within South Africa we courier your artwork to your door - the shipping cost will show at the checkout.

When shipping art internationally, two primary options are commonly considered: crated and rolled. Crating involves securely packaging the artwork in a custom-built crate, providing maximum protection against physical damage but often resulting in higher shipping costs due to size and weight.
On the other hand, rolling art involves taking stretched paintings off the frame, carefully wrapping the artwork and placing it in a protective tube. This method is more cost-effective and suitable for flexible pieces.
Choosing between crating and rolling depends on the specific artwork's size, fragility, and budget, as well as the destination's shipping requirements and regulations.

We will be in touch regarding the best options for you.

Virtual Hanging

Virtual hanging of art is an innovative service we offer that allows art enthusiasts and collectors to visualize how artworks will appear in their desired spaces before making a purchase. We digitally place the selected artworks on your walls, in the correct scale to achieve the desired aesthetic. This service not only helps in making informed decisions but also enhances the overall art-buying experience, providing a realistic preview of the final result and ensuring that the chosen artworks harmonize with the surrounding decor. Please contact us to make use of this service!

Description

In collaboration with acclaimed photographer Mark Peters, The Artists Gallery Cape Town is proud to announce the release of an extraordinary collector’s edition of one of the most iconic photographs in modern history — Nelson Mandela’s first steps to freedom, captured at the very moment he raised his fist in triumph after 27 years of imprisonment.

This image, taken on February 11, 1990, was broadcast and published around the globe and has since become the most enduring and widely recognized visual of the late President Nelson Mandela, symbolizing not just the end of apartheid, but the beginning of a new era for South Africa and the world.

The release of this limited edition marks 31 years since Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as President of South Africa on 10 May 1994, a historic occasion now echoed through the reintroduction of this powerful image. In keeping with a personal decision made during Mandela’s lifetime, Mark Peters committed to producing only 50 signed and numbered prints of this photograph. President Mandela signed the first copies himself, lending his personal imprimatur to what would become a timeless artifact of global significance.

“This is not just a photograph. It is a symbol of resilience, justice, and hope — a moment that changed the world,” says Mark Peters. “I am honoured to share it once again in a way that reflects its enduring legacy.”

This offering is more than a collector’s item; it is a tangible piece of history — a tribute to the man who inspired millions and the artist who captured his spirit in a single, unforgettable frame.