Carleton E. Watkins (1829–1916)
What is Carleton E. Watkins’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 270 auction results for Carleton E. Watkins at 13 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,727 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,560–$20,480, n=13). The auction record is $492,000 for 'THE GARRISON, COLUMBIA RIVER' (2007, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'THE GARRISON, COLUMBIA RIVER' | — | $492,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 2 | tasayac, half dome from glacier point, yosemite | — | $265,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 3 | 'the garrison, columbia river' | — | $229,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 4 | Yosemite Falls, View from the Bottom of Yosemite, 1878 | Albumen print | $180,000 | Sotheby's | Jan 2025 |
| 5 | multnomah falls, columbia river | — | $134,500 | Sotheby's | Oct 2008 |
| 6 | 'yosemite valley, no. 4' | — | $109,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 7 | Cape Horn near Celilo, Columbia River, Oregon, 1867, 1829 | Mammoth-plate albumen print, mounted on card | $100,000 | Christie's | Jul 2018 |
| 8 | hutchings hotel, yosemite | — | $97,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 9 | Cathedral Rocks and Spires Yosemite, 1878-81 | Mammoth-plate albumen print, mounted | $81,900 | Sotheby's | Apr 2021 |
| 10 | 'yo semite falls--(front view) 2477 ft.' | — | $79,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 27 | $38,400 |
| Photographs | 225 | $3,840 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 145 | $5,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 59 | $2,560 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 270 results from 13 houses · How we compute these figures
Carleton E. Watkins is an American artist with 355 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $4,000. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Carleton E. Watkins sold in 2026 for $7,620, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Carleton E. Watkins record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Carleton E. Watkins on OpeningBid →What is a Carleton E. Watkins work worth?
Across 265 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Carleton E. Watkins work is $4,000.
The median Carleton E. Watkins photograph sells for $3,750 across 231 lots.
The median Carleton E. Watkins print sells for $12,500 across 13 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Carleton E. Watkins photographs typically sell for $2,900–$11,992 (the middle half of 138 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Carleton E. Watkins photographs typically sell for $1,015–$3,932 (the middle half of 64 sold 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 | 13 | $12,500 | $60,000 | — | 2026-10-15 |
| Photography | 276 | $3,750‡ | $493,705 | 83.7% | 2026-09-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 14 | $104,500 | $493,705 | — | 2025-01-24 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $7,560–$31,875 | $18,048 | $60,000 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 64 | $1,015–$3,932‡ | $2,450‡ | $40,640 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 138 | $2,900–$11,992 | $5,000 | $493,705 |
‡ 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 | 2007 | $493,705 |
| Photography | 2025 | $180,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $60,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $42,500 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Carleton E. Watkins worth?
Across 265 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Carleton E. Watkins work is $4,000. The median Carleton E. Watkins photograph sells for $3,750 across 231 lots. The median Carleton E. Watkins print sells for $12,500 across 13 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Carleton E. Watkins photographs typically sell for $2,900–$11,992 (the middle half of 138 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Carleton E. Watkins photographs typically sell for $1,015–$3,932 (the middle half of 64 sold lots). Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a Carleton E. Watkins photograph?
Based on 231 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Carleton E. Watkins photograph is $3,750. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Carleton E. Watkins's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Carleton E. Watkins photograph is $493,705.
What is the average price of a Carleton E. Watkins print?
Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Carleton E. Watkins print is $12,500.
What is Carleton E. Watkins's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Carleton E. Watkins print is $60,000.
What is the average price of a medium Carleton E. Watkins photograph?
Based on 138 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Carleton E. Watkins photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is the average price of a small Carleton E. Watkins photograph?
Based on 64 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Carleton E. Watkins photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,450, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Carleton E. Watkins's auction record?
Carleton E. Watkins's auction record is $493,705, set in 2007.
See the full Carleton E. Watkins record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Carleton E. Watkins on OpeningBid →