> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/david-bailey · updated 2026-11-02

# David Bailey (b. 1938)

## What is David Bailey’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 201 auction results for David Bailey at 22 houses since 2001. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,376 including buyer’s premium (middle half $311–$3,682, n=52). The auction record is $43,861 for John Lennon and Paul McCartney, January (2016, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Lennon and Paul McCartney, January, 1990 | Platinum palladium print, printed 1990 | $43,861 | Phillips | May 2016 |
| 2 | John Lennon and Paul McCartney, 1965, 1965 | Platinum-palladium print, printed later | $29,356 | Christie's | Nov 2010 |
| 3 | Double Portrait of John Lennon & Paul McCartney, c. 1969 | — | $29,044 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 4 | Two Skulls, 2007 | Painting | $24,622 | Christie's | Oct 2022 |
| 5 | Box of Pin-Ups, 1965 | — | $24,576 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 6 | John Lennon, 1991 | Platinum palladium print, printed 1991 | $23,524 | Phillips | May 2015 |
| 7 | The Kray Brothers, 1989 | Cartes-de-visite | $19,387 | Phillips | May 2013 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Box of Pin-Ups, 1965 | London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1965. Thirty-six half-tone prints | $17,643 | Phillips | May 2015 |
| 2 | Flamingo, 2020 | Myrrh | $17,387 | Phillips | May 2023 |
| 3 | Flamingo, 2020 | Tirage Inkjet | $17,365 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 48 | $3,669 |
| Photographs | 128 | $2,237 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 59 | $2,679 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $2,408 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 95 | $2,400 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 201 results from 22 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


David Bailey is a British (modern) artist with 250 auction lots recorded since 2001, median price $2,412. 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 David Bailey sold in 2026 for $8,385, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a David Bailey work worth?

Across 163 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a David Bailey work is $2,412.

The median David Bailey photograph sells for $2,064 across 143 lots.

The median David Bailey print sells for $3,798 across 40 lots.

The median David Bailey work on paper sells for $3,291 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) David Bailey photographs typically sell for $688–$4,511 (the middle half of 72 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) David Bailey photographs typically sell for $807–$4,114 (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 | 45 | $3,798‡ | $29,356 | 88.9% | 2026-10-07 |
| Paintings | 1 | $24,622 | $24,622 | — | 2022-10-14 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $3,291 | $3,291 | 50% | 2015-10-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $8,965 | $8,965 | — | 2012-05-16 |
| Photography | 173 | $2,064†‡ | $43,861 | 82.7% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 10 | $24,599 | $43,861 | — | 2023-05-19 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

David Bailey's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (45 lots) median $3,798 with 88.9% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $24,622, record $24,622. A typical David Bailey painting sells for around 6.5× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 10 lots) the median is $24,599.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 32 | $1,019–$8,380‡ | $4,472‡ | $29,356 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $1,346–$12,508 | $5,730 | $17,387 |

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 72 | $688–$4,511†‡ | $1,960†‡ | $38,400 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 54 | $807–$4,114†‡ | $2,544†‡ | $43,861 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $1,465–$3,383 | $2,408 | $7,053 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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 | 2016 | $43,861 |
| Photography | 2006 | $38,400 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $29,356 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $24,622 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $17,643 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2012 | $8,965 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $3,291 |

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 David Bailey worth?

Across 163 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a David Bailey work is $2,412. The median David Bailey photograph sells for $2,064 across 143 lots. The median David Bailey print sells for $3,798 across 40 lots. The median David Bailey work on paper sells for $3,291 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) David Bailey photographs typically sell for $688–$4,511 (the middle half of 72 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) David Bailey photographs typically sell for $807–$4,114 (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 David Bailey photograph?

Based on 143 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a David Bailey photograph is $2,064. 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 David Bailey's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a David Bailey photograph is $43,861.

### What is the average price of a David Bailey print?

Based on 40 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a David Bailey print is $3,798. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is David Bailey's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a David Bailey print is $29,356.

### What is the average price of a small David Bailey photograph?

Based on 72 sold lots, the median auction price of a small David Bailey photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,960, 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 the average price of a medium David Bailey photograph?

Based on 54 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium David Bailey photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,544, 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 David Bailey's auction record?

David Bailey's auction record is $43,861, set in 2016.

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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, “David Bailey auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/david-bailey (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.