> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/benjamin-franklin-3 · updated 2026-11-02

# Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)

## What is Benjamin Franklin’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 96 auction results for Benjamin Franklin at 18 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $23,040 including buyer’s premium (middle half $8,960–$43,840, n=66). The auction record is $460,800 for Experiments and Observations on Electricity Made at Philadelphia (2026, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experiments and Observations on Electricity Made at Philadelphia, 1751 | First edition book | $460,800 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 2 | Benjamin Franklin | "the Day of the Declaration of Independence is everywhere annually celebrated" | Manuscript | $166,400 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 3 | Autograph letter to Mary “Polly” Stevenson, 1762 | Autograph letter on a bifolium of laid paper (watermarked Pro Patria with Maid of Dort, countermarked crowned GR) | $153,600 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 4 | Poor Richard… for the year 1758, 1758 | Book | $115,200 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 5 | Peace is the only Ingredient wanting to my Felicity | Letter | $89,600 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 6 | last collection of Franklin’s writings published in the author’s lifetime | Book | $89,600 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 7 | Benjamin Franklin | The work that led to the establishment of the University of Pennsylvania | First edition book | $76,800 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania General Assembly | Session laws spanning thirty years, 1739-1759 | Printed session laws | $76,800 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 9 | Soul-saving Gospel Truths | Manuscript/document written in Franklin's hand | $76,800 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 10 | The Charters and Acts of Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania, 1762 | Folio edition | $76,800 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 69 | $17,640 |
| Prints | 5 | $764 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $7,280 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 96 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Benjamin Franklin is an American artist with 26 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $562. 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 Benjamin Franklin sold in 2026 for $4,480, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Benjamin Franklin work worth?

Across 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Benjamin Franklin work is $562.

The median Benjamin Franklin print sells for $575 across 9 lots.

The median Benjamin Franklin photograph sells for $550 across 3 lots.

The median Benjamin Franklin painting sells for $119 across 2 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 | 10 | $575†‡ | $48,640 | 90% | 2026-06-24 |
| Paintings | 2 | $119 | $119 | — | 2009-02-26 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $38,400 | $38,400 | — | 2026-06-24 |
| Photography | 3 | $550‡ | $632‡ | — | 2021-06-25 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $134,400 | $460,800 | — | 2026-06-24 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Benjamin Franklin's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (10 lots) median $575 with 90% sell-through. Paintings (2 lots) median $119, record $119. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $134,400.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $48,640 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $40,960 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $38,400 |
| Photography | 2004 | $632‡ |
| Photography | 2021 | $550‡ |
| Paintings | 2009 | $119 |
| Paintings | 2009 | $119 |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Benjamin Franklin worth?

Across 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Benjamin Franklin work is $562. The median Benjamin Franklin print sells for $575 across 9 lots. The median Benjamin Franklin photograph sells for $550 across 3 lots. The median Benjamin Franklin painting sells for $119 across 2 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 Benjamin Franklin's auction record?

Benjamin Franklin's auction record is $16,250, set in 2015. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $16,250 (buyer's premium not included).

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Benjamin Franklin auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/benjamin-franklin-3 (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.