Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898)
What is Aubrey Beardsley’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 118 auction results for Aubrey Beardsley at 35 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,212 including buyer’s premium (middle half $797–$10,214, n=14). The auction record is $50,283 for Autograph letter signed ('Aubrey Beardsley') to [John Lane], 114 Cambridge Street, London, n.d. [1894] (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autograph letter signed ('Aubrey Beardsley') to [John Lane], 114 Cambridge Street, London, n.d. [1894], 1894 | Autograph letter signed with ink illustration | $50,283 | Christie's | Feb 2025 |
| 2 | Title Page Ornament for THE YELLOW BOOK, Volume I/Woman at the Piano, 1872 | Ink drawing on paper | $34,500 | Neal Auction Company | Dec 2004 |
| 3 | A set of five ornamental drawings: (i) Squatting Devil Fishing (ii) Three Stylized Leaves (iii) Two Dog Roses (iv) Bunches of Grapes and Leaves (v) Convolvulus leaf | Drawings | $24,185 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 4 | The dying Beardsley | Cabinet photograph | $13,356 | Christie's | Feb 2025 |
| 5 | Squatting Devil Fishing, 1893 | Pen and ink on paper | $12,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Mar 2017 |
| 6 | Chapter Heading, LXIV Of the Battle Between Sir Palomides and the Two Brethren, and How the Two Brethren Were Slain from Le Morte Darthur, 1892 | Ink over graphite on paper | $11,850 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Sep 2009 |
| 7 | A Book of Fifty Drawings, 1897 | Book with illustrations | $10,999 | Christie's | Feb 2025 |
| 8 | Ben Johnson. His Volpone: or The Fox, 1872 | In 1897 conscience may have got the better of the artist and in Pollitt's copy of the edition de luxe Beardsley added the lettering in india ink on the reproduction. From this Pollitt had a new block made (by Carl Henschel) for his own use' (Lasner). Herbert Charles Pollitt was a collector, correspondent of Wilde, and patron of Beardsley and Whistler, and an on-stage female impersonator who performed as Diane de Rougy. At one stage he owned most of Beardsley’s notorious 'Lysistrata' drawings. Lasner 129 | $10,999 | Christie's | Feb 2025 |
| 9 | Spiky Leaves on a Stem, 1893 | Pen and ink on paper with thin tissue paper backing | $8,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Mar 2017 |
| 10 | The Yellow Book: An Illustrated Quarterly, Volume 1, 1872 | Its vivid yellow cover - an intentional reference to the sensationalist French literary tradition - paired with Beardsley's illustrations subverted Victorian artistic conventions. Featuring contributions from scholarly and artistic figures such as Henry James and Max Beerbohm, the periodical became synonymous with the artistic upheavals of the 'Yellow Nineties.' Its reputation for rebellion was solidified through its infamous association with Oscar Wilde's trial, which, though erroneously reported, cemented its link to cultural dissent. Today | $7,857 | Christie's | Feb 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 22 | $6,425 |
| Prints | 9 | $1,379 |
| Other | 25 | $700 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 33 | $3,750 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 5 | $720 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 118 results from 35 houses · How we compute these figures
Aubrey Beardsley is an English artist with 154 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $446. 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 Aubrey Beardsley sold in 2026 for $660, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Aubrey Beardsley record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Aubrey Beardsley on OpeningBid →What is a Aubrey Beardsley work worth?
Across 104 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Aubrey Beardsley work is $446.
The median Aubrey Beardsley print sells for $83 across 51 lots.
The median Aubrey Beardsley work on paper sells for $5,993 across 22 lots.
The median Aubrey Beardsley photograph sells for $38 across 3 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Aubrey Beardsley prints typically sell for $16–$144 (the middle half of 34 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 | 69 | $83†‡ | $5,400 | 73.9% | 2026-05-30 |
| Works on Paper | 28 | $5,993†‡ | $50,283 | 78.6% | 2025-02-13 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $512 | $512 | — | 2013-05-21 |
| Photography | 5 | $38†‡ | $13,356 | 60% | 2025-02-13 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $18,771 | $50,283 | — | 2025-02-13 |
† 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) | 34 | $16–$144†‡ | $40†‡ | $3,600 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $382–$1,422†‡ | $700†‡ | $5,400 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $3,875–$11,637† | $6,425† | $50,283 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $50,283 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $34,500 |
| Photography | 2025 | $13,356 |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $5,400 |
| Prints & Editions | 2004 | $3,600 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $512 |
| Photography | 2011 | $38‡ |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Aubrey Beardsley worth?
Across 104 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Aubrey Beardsley work is $446. The median Aubrey Beardsley print sells for $83 across 51 lots. The median Aubrey Beardsley work on paper sells for $5,993 across 22 lots. The median Aubrey Beardsley photograph sells for $38 across 3 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Aubrey Beardsley prints typically sell for $16–$144 (the middle half of 34 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 Aubrey Beardsley print?
Based on 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Aubrey Beardsley print is $83. 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 Aubrey Beardsley's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Aubrey Beardsley print is $5,400.
What is the average price of a Aubrey Beardsley work on paper?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Aubrey Beardsley work on paper is $5,993. 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 Aubrey Beardsley's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Aubrey Beardsley work on paper is $50,283.
What is the average price of a small Aubrey Beardsley print?
Based on 34 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Aubrey Beardsley print (small (under 50 cm)) is $40, 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 the average price of a small Aubrey Beardsley work on paper?
Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Aubrey Beardsley work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $6,425, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Aubrey Beardsley's auction record?
Aubrey Beardsley's auction record is $50,283, set in 2025.
See the full Aubrey Beardsley record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Aubrey Beardsley on OpeningBid →