Edward S. Curtis (1868–1952)
What is Edward S. Curtis’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,922 auction results for Edward S. Curtis at 37 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,253 including buyer’s premium (middle half $507–$3,063, n=172). The auction record is $1,440,000 for The North American Indian (2012, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The North American Indian, Portfolios 1-20; and Volumes 1-20 | Portfolios and volumes | $1,100,000 | Coeur d'Alene Art Auction | Jul 2020 |
| 2 | The North American Indian, Being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States andAl | Book | $607,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2001 |
| 3 | The North American Indian, Being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska, 1907-1930 | Sepia photogravures on Van Gelder and Vellum papers, 3/4 gilt-lettered morocco binding | $190,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2006 |
| 4 | The North American Indian, 1903-1908 | Photographs | $178,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2000 |
| 5 | chief joseph, nez percé, idaho | — | $169,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 6 | Geronimo, 1905 | Platinum print | $120,000 | Santa Fe Art Auction | Jun 2021 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The North American Indian, 1907-1930 | Photogravures | $1,440,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2012 |
| 2 | The North American Indian. Being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska, 1868 | CURTIS | $1,440,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2012 |
| 3 | The North American Indian, Being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska, 1907-1926 | Photogravures | $900,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2007 |
| 4 | The North American Indian. Being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska, 1868 | CURTIS | $233,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2015 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 892 | $3,900 |
| Works on paper | 98 | $3,430 |
| Other | 640 | $1,255 |
| Prints | 52 | $567 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 1,431 | $2,860 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 165 | $1,830 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,922 results from 37 houses · How we compute these figures
Edward S. Curtis is an American artist with 2,245 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $2,745. 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 S. Curtis sold in 2026 for $13,952, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
52 Edward S. Curtis works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Edward S. Curtis free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Edward S. Curtis record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Edward S. Curtis on OpeningBid →What is a Edward S. Curtis work worth?
Across 1,877 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Edward S. Curtis work is $2,745.
The median Edward S. Curtis photograph sells for $3,980 across 1,055 lots.
The median Edward S. Curtis print sells for $1,834 across 171 lots.
The median Edward S. Curtis work on paper sells for $10,157 across 9 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Edward S. Curtis photographs typically sell for $1,698–$8,586 (the middle half of 911 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Edward S. Curtis prints typically sell for $590–$3,795 (the middle half of 155 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 | 213 | $1,834† | $27,972 | 80.3% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $10,157 | $21,510 | — | 2022-11-03 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $7,000‡ | $7,000‡ | — | 2020-06-26 |
| Photography | 1,207 | $3,980†‡ | $2.5M | 87.4% | 2026-10-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 89 | $27,972† | $2.5M | — | 2026-04-09 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 155 | $590–$3,795† | $1,800† | $27,972 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $1,864–$15,938† | $10,000† | $24,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $6,038–$14,938 | $10,456 | $21,510 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 911 | $1,698–$8,586†‡ | $3,910†‡ | $2.5M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 44 | $495–$21,600† | $5,846† | $61,000 |
† 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 | 2005 | $2.5M |
| Photography | 2012 | $1.4M |
| Prints & Editions | 2004 | $27,972 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $24,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2002 | $21,510 |
| Works on Paper | 2002 | $20,315 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2020 | $7,000‡ |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Edward S. Curtis worth?
Across 1,877 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Edward S. Curtis work is $2,745. The median Edward S. Curtis photograph sells for $3,980 across 1,055 lots. The median Edward S. Curtis print sells for $1,834 across 171 lots. The median Edward S. Curtis work on paper sells for $10,157 across 9 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Edward S. Curtis photographs typically sell for $1,698–$8,586 (the middle half of 911 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Edward S. Curtis prints typically sell for $590–$3,795 (the middle half of 155 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 S. Curtis photograph?
Based on 1,055 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Edward S. Curtis photograph is $3,980. 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 S. Curtis's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Edward S. Curtis photograph is $2,476,815.
What is the average price of a Edward S. Curtis print?
Based on 171 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Edward S. Curtis print is $1,834. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Edward S. Curtis's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Edward S. Curtis print is $27,972.
What is the average price of a small Edward S. Curtis photograph?
Based on 911 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Edward S. Curtis photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,910, 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 small Edward S. Curtis print?
Based on 155 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Edward S. Curtis print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,800, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Edward S. Curtis's auction record?
Edward S. Curtis's auction record is $2,476,815, set in 2005.
See the full Edward S. Curtis record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Edward S. Curtis on OpeningBid →