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

# Edward Curtis (1868–1952)

## What is Edward Curtis’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 136 auction results for Edward Curtis at 22 houses since 1988. Over the last 24 months the median price was $384 including buyer’s premium (middle half $256–$531, n=51). The auction record is $21,850 for A Souvenir of the Harriman Alaska Expedition, vols. I & II (1997, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Souvenir of the Harriman Alaska Expedition, vols. I & II, 1899 | Photographs | $21,850 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 1997 |
| 2 | Canyon de Chelly | Original Orotone Photograph | $18,800 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | May 2006 |
| 3 | A Souvenir of the Harriman Alaska Expedition, May-August 1899, Cook Inlet to Bering Strait and the Return Voyage. Vols. I & II, 1899 | Photographs | $18,400 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2000 |
| 4 | Bear's Belly - Arikara, 1908 | Photogravure, on Japon vellum | $9,600 | Freeman's Hindman | Oct 2025 |
| 5 | Edward Curtis (1868-1952 Los Angeles, CA) | Platinum | $8,000 | John Moran Auctioneers | Nov 2011 |
| 6 | Canyon de Chelly | Original Photograph | $7,050 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | May 2006 |
| 7 | The Fisherman, Wisham, 1900 | Orotone, in the original studio frame | $6,600 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 1992 |
| 8 | At the Old Well of Acoma | Orotone | $5,160 | Phillips | Oct 2026 |
| 9 | APHRODITE, 1930 | Tirage argentique d'époque avec virage bleu | $5,054 | Artcurial | Oct 2015 |
| 10 | The Vanishing Race | Original signed photograph | $4,700 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Jan 2005 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 37 | $1,625 |
| Works on paper | 8 | $488 |
| Other | 57 | $384 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 23 | $793 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 67 | $448 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 136 results from 22 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Edward Curtis is an American artist with 102 auction lots recorded since 1988, median price $872. 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 Edward Curtis sold in 2026 for $5,160, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**5 Edward Curtis works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Edward Curtis on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/edward-curtis?ref=kg:edward-curtis) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Edward Curtis work worth?

Across 84 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Edward Curtis work is $872.

The median Edward Curtis photograph sells for $812 across 77 lots.

The median Edward Curtis print sells for $160 across 7 lots.

The median Edward Curtis work on paper sells for $5,054 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Edward Curtis photographs typically sell for $299–$2,029 (the middle half of 56 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 | 8 | $160†‡ | $8,000 | 87.5% | 2025-11-26 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $5,054 | $5,054 | — | 2015-10-27 |
| Photography | 96 | $812†‡ | $21,850 | 80.2% | 2026-07-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $15,000†‡ | $21,850 | — | 2025-10-24 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 56 | $299–$2,029†‡ | $632†‡ | $18,800 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $1,150–$2,875‡ | $2,415‡ | $18,400 |

† 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 | 1997 | $21,850 |
| Photography | 2006 | $18,800 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $8,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $5,054 |
| Prints & Editions | 2008 | $690‡ |

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

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 Edward Curtis worth?

Across 84 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Edward Curtis work is $872. The median Edward Curtis photograph sells for $812 across 77 lots. The median Edward Curtis print sells for $160 across 7 lots. The median Edward Curtis work on paper sells for $5,054 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Edward Curtis photographs typically sell for $299–$2,029 (the middle half of 56 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 Edward Curtis photograph?

Based on 77 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Edward Curtis photograph is $812. 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 Edward Curtis's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Edward Curtis photograph is $21,850.

### What is the average price of a small Edward Curtis photograph?

Based on 56 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Edward Curtis photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $632, 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 Edward Curtis's auction record?

Edward Curtis's auction record is $21,850, set in 1997.

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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, “Edward Curtis auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/edward-curtis (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.