> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/charles-bird-king · updated 2026-11-02

# Charles Bird King (1785–1862)

## What is Charles Bird King’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 74 auction results for Charles Bird King at 16 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $553 including buyer’s premium (middle half $223–$66,850, n=6). The auction record is $457,000 for John Ridge, Cherokee Chief (2007, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Ridge, Cherokee Chief, 1825 | Portrait | $457,000 | Christie's | Sep 2007 |
| 2 | Wakechai (Crouching Eagle) A Sauk Chief, 1824 | Oil on panel | $243,000 | Sotheby's | Jan 2025 |
| 3 | Portrait of Big Buffalo, a Chippewa | Oil on panel | $125,000 | Sotheby's | May 2013 |
| 4 | President Monroe, 1826 | Painting | $88,900 | Sotheby's | Jan 2026 |
| 5 | Apples, Pears, Plums and Grapes, 1815 | Oil paint | $21,420 | Christie's | Jan 2024 |
| 6 | Pomegranate, grapes and pineapples, 1786 | Oil paint | $16,100 | Christie's | Jan 1999 |
| 7 | The Castle Builder, 1829 | Oil on canvas | $10,115 | Christie's | Sep 2006 |
| 8 | Rebecca Ballard (Nixon) Scott with Her Child | Oil on canvas | $2,925 | Grogan & Company | Jun 2020 |
| 9 | Portrait of Anna Dade Stith Bolling | Oil on canvas laid on metal panel | $1,651 | Freeman's Hindman | Apr 2024 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | History of the Indian Tribes of North America, 1785 | 3 volumes, first octavo edition, gilt red-morocco publisher's deluxe binding, spine with four raised bands, five compartments, all edges gilt, with 120 lithographed plates, plus the colored dedication to Washington | $9,600 | Neal Auction Company | Nov 2022 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 9 | $21,420 |
| Prints | 35 | $488 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 10 | $2,288 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 37 | $500 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 74 results from 16 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Charles Bird King is an American artist with 86 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $577. 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 Charles Bird King sold in 2026 for $700, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Charles Bird King work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Charles Bird King on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/charles-bird-king?ref=kg:charles-bird-king) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Charles Bird King work worth?

Across 67 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Charles Bird King work is $577.

The median Charles Bird King print sells for $475 across 58 lots.

The median Charles Bird King painting sells for $21,420 across 11 lots.

The median Charles Bird King work on paper sells for $325 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Charles Bird King prints typically sell for $291–$724 (the middle half of 54 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 | 70 | $475†‡ | $1,342 | 82.9% | 2026-09-25 |
| Paintings | 11 | $21,420†‡ | $687,500† | — | 2026-01-24 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $325† | $325† | 50% | 2026-09-25 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $350,000† | $687,500† | — | 2025-01-24 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Charles Bird King's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (70 lots) median $475 with 82.9% sell-through. Paintings (11 lots) median $21,420, record $687,500. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $687,500 (buyer's premium not included). A typical Charles Bird King painting sells for around 45× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $350,000.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 54 | $291–$724†‡ | $475†‡ | $1,342 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $5,154–$20,090† | $13,107† | $88,900 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2016 | $687,500† |
| Paintings | 2007 | $457,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $1,342 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $1,159 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $325† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Charles Bird King worth?

Across 67 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Charles Bird King work is $577. The median Charles Bird King print sells for $475 across 58 lots. The median Charles Bird King painting sells for $21,420 across 11 lots. The median Charles Bird King work on paper sells for $325 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Charles Bird King prints typically sell for $291–$724 (the middle half of 54 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 Charles Bird King print?

Based on 58 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Charles Bird King print is $475. 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 Charles Bird King's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Charles Bird King print is $1,342.

### What is the average price of a Charles Bird King painting?

Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Charles Bird King painting is $21,420. 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 Charles Bird King's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Charles Bird King painting is $687,500. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $687,500 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a small Charles Bird King print?

Based on 54 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Charles Bird King print (small (under 50 cm)) is $475, 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 Charles Bird King's auction record?

Charles Bird King's auction record is $687,500, set in 2016. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $687,500 (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, “Charles Bird King auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/charles-bird-king (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.