Today, the term 'state' is used to distinguish between two impressions made from the same copper plate that show differences due to modifications made in the meantime by the engraver. This article aims to show how these differences gradually gained value among collectors. While they may have initially sparked curiosity and amazement, it was primarily the set of meanings attributed to them during the 18th century that determined their success. In parallel, the emergence of catalogues raisonnés further encouraged the identification and search for different states, thus helping to establish their meaning and formalize the way they were described.