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

# Francis Bedford (1816–1894)

## What is Francis Bedford’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 32 auction results for Francis Bedford at 9 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $168 including buyer’s premium (middle half $151–$217, n=6). The auction record is $132,000 for Suite of 3 albums entitled "Photographic Pictures Made By Mr. Francis Bedford During the Tour in the East in which, by (2009, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suite of 3 albums entitled "Photographic Pictures Made By Mr. Francis Bedford During the Tour in the East in which, by, 1862 | Albumen print | $132,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2009 |
| 2 | The Holy Land, 1860 | Photographs | $4,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2008 |
| 3 | Untitled | Horne | $1,081 | Chiswick Auctions | Dec 2021 |
| 4 | (England.) Ruined Abbeys and Castles of Great Britain * Shakespeare: his Birthplace, Home, and Grave * Marmion. Together, 3 photographically illustrated volumes, each containing albumen prints. 8vo, gilt-pictorial cloth, condition varies. London,, 1862-1866 | Photograph | $862 | Swann Auction Galleries | Mar 1997 |
| 5 | Door, Rivaulx Abbey; Door, Barfreystone Church, Kent | 2 albumen prints | $754 | Christie's | Nov 2003 |
| 6 | THE HOLY LAND: EGYPT, CONSTANTINOPLE, ATHENS | Albumen print | $615 | Chiswick Auctions | Dec 2021 |
| 7 | Choice group of 3 photographs from the "Tour in the East.", 1816 | BEDFORD | $600 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2010 |
| 8 | Tour in the East, 1862 | Albumen print | $600 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2010 |
| 9 | Photographic album, Grand tour | Albumen prints (78), mount on contemporary album leaves | $499 | Chiswick Auctions | Dec 2021 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Album containing 72 exterior and interior ecclesiastical views of abbeys and cathedrals in the British Isles, 1870 | Albumen print | $3,600 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2009 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 23 | $438 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $438 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 32 results from 9 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Francis Bedford is a British artist with 57 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $492. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Francis Bedford is recorded as sold in 2026 for $871; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Francis Bedford work worth?

Across 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Bedford work is $492.

The median Francis Bedford photograph sells for $495 across 28 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Francis Bedford photographs typically sell for $226–$611 (the middle half of 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photography | 35 | $495†‡ | $132,000 | 80% | 2026-03-25 |

† 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) | 26 | $226–$611†‡ | $492†‡ | $132,000 |

† 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 | 2009 | $132,000 |
| Photography | 2008 | $4,800 |

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 Francis Bedford worth?

Across 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Bedford work is $492. The median Francis Bedford photograph sells for $495 across 28 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Francis Bedford photographs typically sell for $226–$611 (the middle half of 26 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 Francis Bedford photograph?

Based on 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Bedford photograph is $495. 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 Francis Bedford's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Francis Bedford photograph is $132,000.

### What is the average price of a small Francis Bedford photograph?

Based on 26 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Francis Bedford photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $492, 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 Francis Bedford's auction record?

Francis Bedford's auction record is $132,000, set in 2009.

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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, “Francis Bedford auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francis-bedford (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.