George Platt Lynes (1907–1955)
What is George Platt Lynes’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 339 auction results for George Platt Lynes at 30 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,408 including buyer’s premium (middle half $704–$3,000, n=97). The auction record is $36,000 for Suite of 100 photographs relating to the New York City Ballet, from its inception to the early 1950s (2013, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suite of 100 photographs relating to the New York City Ballet, from its inception to the early 1950s, 1938-1951 | Photographs | $36,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2013 |
| 2 | Selected Images, 1937-39 | Selected Images (4 photographs) | $19,050 | Sotheby's | May 2019 |
| 3 | Untitled (silver print), early 1930s | Silver print | $17,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Aug 2022 |
| 4 | Bobby Evans & Fred Ritter * N. Mark Pagano * Blanchard Kennedy, 1935-43 | 3 silver prints | $14,300 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2017 |
| 5 | Jared French, circa 1950 | Silver print | $10,625 | Swann Auction Galleries | Aug 2021 |
| 6 | Narcissus (from 'Mythology'), 1939 | Gelatin silver print | $9,563 | Bonhams | Dec 2024 |
| 7 | The Second Birth of Dionysus, 1907 | Gelatin silver print with hand-applied pigment | $9,375 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 8 | Tex Smutley and Buddy Stanley | Gelatin silver print | $8,960 | Rago Arts | Aug 2026 |
| 9 | Lew Christensen as Orfeo, circa 1938 | Silver print | $7,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2024 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chuck Howard, 1949 | Pencil | $8,450 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2017 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 31 | $3,500 |
| Works on paper | 6 | $3,035 |
| Photographs | 269 | $2,250 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 295 | $2,375 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 339 results from 30 houses · How we compute these figures
George Platt Lynes is an American artist with 410 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $2,375. 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 George Platt Lynes sold in 2026 for $12,160, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full George Platt Lynes record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View George Platt Lynes on OpeningBid →What is a George Platt Lynes work worth?
Across 334 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Platt Lynes work is $2,375.
The median George Platt Lynes photograph sells for $2,375 across 312 lots.
The median George Platt Lynes print sells for $2,681 across 2 lots.
The median George Platt Lynes work on paper sells for $4,840 across 2 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) George Platt Lynes photographs typically sell for $1,186–$3,750 (the middle half of 300 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 | 3 | $2,681 | $3,250 | 66.7% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $4,840 | $6,000 | — | 2021-05-27 |
| Photography | 353 | $2,375†‡ | $36,000 | 88.4% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 18 | $9,168 | $36,000 | — | 2026-10-08 |
† 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) | 300 | $1,186–$3,750†‡ | $2,384†‡ | $36,000 |
† 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 | 2013 | $36,000 |
| Photography | 2019 | $19,050 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $6,000 |
| Works on Paper | 1998 | $3,680 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $3,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $2,112 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a George Platt Lynes worth?
Across 334 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Platt Lynes work is $2,375. The median George Platt Lynes photograph sells for $2,375 across 312 lots. The median George Platt Lynes print sells for $2,681 across 2 lots. The median George Platt Lynes work on paper sells for $4,840 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) George Platt Lynes photographs typically sell for $1,186–$3,750 (the middle half of 300 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 George Platt Lynes photograph?
Based on 312 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a George Platt Lynes photograph is $2,375. 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 George Platt Lynes's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a George Platt Lynes photograph is $36,000.
What is the average price of a small George Platt Lynes photograph?
Based on 300 sold lots, the median auction price of a small George Platt Lynes photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,384, 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 George Platt Lynes's auction record?
George Platt Lynes's auction record is $36,000, set in 2013.
See the full George Platt Lynes record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View George Platt Lynes on OpeningBid →