eBay has a place to designate whether a photo is an original or a reprint.

Am I just being paranoid to think that a seller who indicates "original print" in that spot is trying to avoid the term "reprint" but not call it an "original" either?

Original print means original.

Paper photographs are often referred to as 'photographic prints,' as the image is 'printed' (made) from the negative onto photo paper. Photographic print means it's a real photograph, and not a lithograph or other printing press print. In the eBay category, 'original print' means an original photograph.

Though it is commonly associated with lithographs, etchings and such, the word 'print,' or more specifically 'photographic print' is used in photography and refers to a genuine photograph, usually a photo on paper. You'll sometimes hear the phrase, "photograph printed from the original negative"-- 'printed' in this sentence meaning the image was photographically developed from the negative. Though often weird sounding to people new to photography(due to the common printing press and ink connotation), print and printed are simply terminology used by photographers.

If you own an original $5,000 1920 Babe Ruth photo, a vintage 1955 Willie mays wirephoto or an original 1915 Joe Wood real photo postcards, those are photographic prints-- as the images were developed onto paper. Your family snapshots are photographic prints, with the images 'printed' from the negatives onto paper. You aren't required to call them photographic prints. You can call them simply "photographs" as you always have. If I was selling that Ruth photo on eBay, I would call it a "photograph," and not a "photographic print," so as to avoid any potential confusion-- as some potential bidders may be confused about the 'print' part.

Thanks for the info.

I also see now that "original print" is the term that eBay allows when filling in that field. It would make more sense to a novice like me to simply say "original"

Chuck, I also would chose 'original' as eBay's category.