> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/george-platt-lynes · updated 2026-11-03

# George Platt Lynes (1907–1955)

## What is George Platt Lynes’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 344 auction results for George Platt Lynes at 30 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,437 including buyer’s premium (middle half $732–$3,072, n=101). 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.

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

| # | 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 | Walter Rockmer, circa 1941 | Gelatin silver print | $12,160 | Christie's | Oct 2026 |
| 6 | Jared French, circa 1950 | Silver print | $10,625 | Swann Auction Galleries | Aug 2021 |
| 7 | Narcissus (from 'Mythology'), 1939 | Gelatin silver print | $9,563 | Bonhams | Dec 2024 |
| 8 | The Second Birth of Dionysus, 1907 | Gelatin silver print with hand-applied pigment | $9,375 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 9 | Tex Smutley and Buddy Stanley | Gelatin silver print | $8,960 | Rago Arts | Aug 2026 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chuck Howard, 1949 | Pencil | $8,450 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2017 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 34 | $3,675 |
| Works on paper | 6 | $3,035 |
| Photographs | 270 | $2,250 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 296 | $2,375 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 344 results from 30 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


George Platt Lynes is an American artist with 411 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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “George Platt Lynes auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/george-platt-lynes (updated 2026-11-03).

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.