Alvin Langdon Coburn (1882–1966)
What is Alvin Langdon Coburn’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 119 auction results for Alvin Langdon Coburn at 21 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $425 including buyer’s premium (middle half $266–$1,350, n=14). The auction record is $229,394 for Vortograph (2003, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vortograph, 1882 | Gelatin silver print. 1917. Signed in pencil on mount | $229,394 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 2 | Vortograph, 1917 | Gelatin silver print. 1917. Signed in pencil on mount | $165,003 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 3 | Vortograph, 1917 | Gelatin silver print. 1917 | $107,962 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 4 | Self Portrait | Platinum print | $93,750 | Phillips | Apr 2017 |
| 5 | Portrait of Arthur Wesley Dow | Gum bichromate over platinum print | $62,500 | Phillips | Oct 2017 |
| 6 | In the High Sierra, Yosemite, vers 1911 | Tirage au platine à la gomme monté sur papier | $26,469 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 7 | Santa Monica, Ocean Park, 1911 | Platinum print | $19,050 | Sotheby's | Apr 2023 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vortograph, 1917 | Gelatin silver print. 1917 | $146,605 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 2 | Vortograph, 1917 | Cartes-de-visite | $86,474 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| 3 | Vortograph, 1882 | Cartes-de-visite | $86,474 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 25 | $3,600 |
| Other | 65 | $1,426 |
| Works on paper | 10 | $397 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 66 | $1,377 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 119 results from 21 houses · How we compute these figures
Alvin Langdon Coburn is a British (modern) artist with 201 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $1,309. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Alvin Langdon Coburn sold in 2026 for $5,160, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Alvin Langdon Coburn record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Alvin Langdon Coburn on OpeningBid →What is a Alvin Langdon Coburn work worth?
Across 117 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Alvin Langdon Coburn work is $1,309.
The median Alvin Langdon Coburn photograph sells for $1,309 across 105 lots.
The median Alvin Langdon Coburn print sells for $1,263 across 6 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Alvin Langdon Coburn photographs typically sell for $500–$4,832 (the middle half of 71 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 11 | $1,263 | $2,880 | 54.5% | 2026-03-25 |
| Photography | 132 | $1,309†‡ | $229,394 | 79.5% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $141,803 | $229,394 | — | 2017-04-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $1,097–$1,875 | $1,430 | $2,880 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 71 | $500–$4,832†‡ | $1,250†‡ | $229,394 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2003 | $229,394 |
| Photography | 2003 | $165,003 |
| Prints & Editions | 2005 | $2,880 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $1,875 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Alvin Langdon Coburn worth?
Across 117 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Alvin Langdon Coburn work is $1,309. The median Alvin Langdon Coburn photograph sells for $1,309 across 105 lots. The median Alvin Langdon Coburn print sells for $1,263 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Alvin Langdon Coburn photographs typically sell for $500–$4,832 (the middle half of 71 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Alvin Langdon Coburn photograph?
Based on 105 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Alvin Langdon Coburn photograph is $1,309. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Alvin Langdon Coburn's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Alvin Langdon Coburn photograph is $229,394.
What is the average price of a Alvin Langdon Coburn print?
Based on 6 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Alvin Langdon Coburn print is $1,263.
What is Alvin Langdon Coburn's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Alvin Langdon Coburn print is $2,880.
What is the average price of a small Alvin Langdon Coburn photograph?
Based on 71 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Alvin Langdon Coburn photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Alvin Langdon Coburn's auction record?
Alvin Langdon Coburn's auction record is $229,394, set in 2003.
See the full Alvin Langdon Coburn record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Alvin Langdon Coburn on OpeningBid →