cirom
I don't wish to double guess the amount or reason of your mothers debt, but it seems selling of an original piece of work is not a cost efficient way of resolving that, and also with due respect sums such as $50 or $100 would be undermining your value and effort involved.
Certainly a one off creation should sell for a higher sum, but wether it would sell for a hundred times the amount of a limited edition of one hundered copies is highly unlikely. I know you have already gone through the process of producing a limited edition deck and obviously realize how labor intensive that process is, but it would still be the best option for realizing a decent return for your effort if that is you aim, while still maintaining a degree of exclusivity for the collectors.
Using, if I may my experience with the hand made edition of the Gilded Tarot. Each was made to order, so there was no risk of unsold inventory, furthermore each deck was unique, I modified something, a color here or element there, in various cards, every time, so no deck was the same. Furthermore I made a 79th card which was personalized for each customer, either with a quotation of their choice or a dedication. So in addition to the production being limited to 200 in total, each one within that was in a way a one of a kind. For me and presumably those who bought the decks it was an acceptable balance of product, excusivity and value. A similar approach may be something that would serve your goals?
On the other hand if your principal aim is the aesthetic, almost spiritual issue of producing a truly one of a kind item of art, then of course there are other values involved, and the finacial one is probably not one of them.
Certainly a one off creation should sell for a higher sum, but wether it would sell for a hundred times the amount of a limited edition of one hundered copies is highly unlikely. I know you have already gone through the process of producing a limited edition deck and obviously realize how labor intensive that process is, but it would still be the best option for realizing a decent return for your effort if that is you aim, while still maintaining a degree of exclusivity for the collectors.
Using, if I may my experience with the hand made edition of the Gilded Tarot. Each was made to order, so there was no risk of unsold inventory, furthermore each deck was unique, I modified something, a color here or element there, in various cards, every time, so no deck was the same. Furthermore I made a 79th card which was personalized for each customer, either with a quotation of their choice or a dedication. So in addition to the production being limited to 200 in total, each one within that was in a way a one of a kind. For me and presumably those who bought the decks it was an acceptable balance of product, excusivity and value. A similar approach may be something that would serve your goals?
On the other hand if your principal aim is the aesthetic, almost spiritual issue of producing a truly one of a kind item of art, then of course there are other values involved, and the finacial one is probably not one of them.