> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/chesley-bonestell · updated 2026-11-03

# Chesley Bonestell (1888–1986)

## What is Chesley Bonestell’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 21 auction results for Chesley Bonestell at 4 houses since 2011. Over the last 24 months the median price was $27,940 including buyer’s premium (middle half $11,430–$33,020, n=17). The auction record is $60,960 for RETURN OF THE ROCKET SHIP'S THIRD STAGE (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RETURN OF THE ROCKET SHIP'S THIRD STAGE, 1952 | Oil on board | $60,960 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 2 | ZERO HOUR MINUS FIVE, 1949 | Oil on Masonite | $60,960 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 3 | FORMATION OF THE EARTH, 1978 | Oil on board | $44,450 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 4 | SEPARATION OVER THE PACIFIC, 1961 | Oil on board | $35,560 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 5 | LAUNCH VEHICLE'S WINGED THIRD STATE AND ITS EMERGENCY EJECTION CAPSULES, 1953 | Oil on board | $33,020 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 6 | MILKY WAY GALAXY, 1975 | Oil on board | $33,020 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 7 | THE 1976 VOYAGER MISSION ARRIVES AT SATURN, 16 JANUARY 1980, 1888 | Oil on board | $33,020 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 8 | REENTRY OF THE BABY SPACE STATION, 1953 | Oil on board | $30,480 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 9 | ROCKET TO THE MOON, 1945 | Oil on Masonite | $27,940 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 10 | EARLY STUDIES OF PLANETARY LANDSCAPES, 1940 | 21 oil sketches, chiefly on parchment-style Acawam Bond paper; with accompanying typescript captions on five separate sheets | $25,400 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 9 | $30,480 |
| Other | 8 | $19,685 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 9 | $33,020 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $11,748 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 21 results from 4 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Chesley Bonestell is an American artist with 24 auction lots recorded since 2011, median price $21,590.

A work by Chesley Bonestell sold in 2025 for $33,020, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Chesley Bonestell work worth?

Across 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Chesley Bonestell work is $21,590.

The median Chesley Bonestell painting sells for $33,020 across 13 lots.

The median Chesley Bonestell print sells for $9,758 across 4 lots.

The median Chesley Bonestell work on paper sells for $11,815 across 2 lots.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 5 | $9,758 | $11,430 | 80% | 2026-05-21 |
| Paintings | 13 | $33,020 | $60,960 | — | 2025-12-12 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $11,815 | $21,590 | — | 2025-12-12 |
| Photography | 1 | $9,525 | $9,525 | — | 2025-12-12 |

Chesley Bonestell's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $9,758 with 80% sell-through. Paintings (13 lots) median $33,020, record $60,960. A typical Chesley Bonestell painting sells for around 3.4× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $8,572–$27,781 | $11,748 | $60,960 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $31,750–$40,005 | $33,020 | $60,960 |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $60,960 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $60,960 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $21,590 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $11,430 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $10,625 |
| Photography | 2025 | $9,525 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $2,040 |

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 Chesley Bonestell worth?

Across 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Chesley Bonestell work is $21,590. The median Chesley Bonestell painting sells for $33,020 across 13 lots. The median Chesley Bonestell print sells for $9,758 across 4 lots. The median Chesley Bonestell work on paper sells for $11,815 across 2 lots.

### What is the average price of a Chesley Bonestell painting?

Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Chesley Bonestell painting is $33,020.

### What is Chesley Bonestell's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Chesley Bonestell painting is $60,960.

### What is Chesley Bonestell's auction record?

Chesley Bonestell's auction record is $60,960, set in 2025.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Chesley Bonestell auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/chesley-bonestell (updated 2026-11-03).

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.