Billie Holiday
What is Billie Holiday’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 27 auction results for Billie Holiday at 3 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $600 including buyer’s premium (middle half $300–$2,500, n=21). The auction record is $4,250 for original orchestral arrangement sheets for 'Lover Man', 'A Love Affair', 'Please Come Home', 'Sleepy Time Down South', 'You Took Advantage of Me', 'All of You', 'Deed I Do', 'Sometimes I'm Happy', 'For All We Know' (2025, Clars Auction Gallery). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | original orchestral arrangement sheets for 'Lover Man', 'A Love Affair', 'Please Come Home', 'Sleepy Time Down South', 'You Took Advantage of Me', 'All of You', 'Deed I Do', 'Sometimes I'm Happy', 'For All We Know' | Original orchestral arrangement sheets | $4,250 | Clars Auction Gallery | Nov 2025 |
| 2 | handwritten letter to a fan at the Taft School in Watertown, CT, 1938 | Handwritten in ink on paper | $3,750 | Clars Auction Gallery | Nov 2025 |
| 3 | handwritten letter to her last husband, Louie Mackay, circa 1957 | Pencil on two sheets | $3,250 | Clars Auction Gallery | Sep 2025 |
| 4 | handwritten letter to her last husband, Louie Mackay, circa 1957 | Pencil on two sheets | $3,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | Nov 2025 |
| 5 | Archive of over 1000 pages of documents, letters, contracts, some music, and a few photographs, 1936-1970s | Documents, letters, contracts, some music, and a few photographs | $2,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2004 |
| 6 | handwritten letter to a fan at the Taft School in Watertown, CT, 1938 | Handwritten in ink on paper | $2,750 | Clars Auction Gallery | Sep 2025 |
| 7 | Lady Sings the Blues, 1956 | First edition book | $2,500 | Clars Auction Gallery | Nov 2025 |
| 8 | Photograph by Carole Reiff (1934-1984), circa 1984 | Photograph | $2,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jul 2021 |
| 9 | (MUSIC.) HOLIDAY, BILLIE. Signed Contract and Signed Photograph., 1952 | Folio, and 8x10 glossy, publicity photograph | $1,920 | Swann Auction Galleries | Mar 2011 |
| 10 | Important small archive of materials relating to Bille Holiday, 1950s-1960s | Photograph | $1,900 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2005 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 5 | $1,920 |
| Other | 17 | $450 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $700 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 27 results from 3 houses · How we compute these figures
Billie Holiday is an artist with 28 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $840. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Billie Holiday sold in 2026 for $1,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Billie Holiday record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Billie Holiday on OpeningBid →What is a Billie Holiday work worth?
Across 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Billie Holiday work is $840.
The median Billie Holiday print sells for $388 across 8 lots.
The median Billie Holiday photograph sells for $1,900 across 7 lots.
The median Billie Holiday work on paper sells for $2,875 across 6 lots.
Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 8 | $388 | $4,250 | — | 2025-11-21 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $2,875 | $3,750 | — | 2026-02-21 |
| Photography | 7 | $1,900‡ | $2,800 | — | 2026-02-05 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $543–$1,920‡ | $600‡ | $2,000 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $4,250 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $3,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $3,250 |
| Photography | 2004 | $2,800 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $2,500 |
| Photography | 2021 | $2,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Billie Holiday worth?
Across 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Billie Holiday work is $840. The median Billie Holiday print sells for $388 across 8 lots. The median Billie Holiday photograph sells for $1,900 across 7 lots. The median Billie Holiday work on paper sells for $2,875 across 6 lots. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Billie Holiday's auction record?
Billie Holiday's auction record is $4,250, set in 2025.
See the full Billie Holiday record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Billie Holiday on OpeningBid →