Dr. Harold Edgerton (1903–1990)
What is Dr. Harold Edgerton’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 55 auction results for Dr. Harold Edgerton at 13 houses since 2005. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,375 including buyer’s premium (middle half $930–$2,800, n=15). The auction record is $27,940 for Ten Dye Transfer Photographs (2025, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collection of 26 vintage photographs, comprising stop-motion prints of milk drop coronet, cock fight, white pigeon with, circa 1937 | Photographs | $18,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2008 |
| 2 | Ten Dye Transfer Photographs, 1938-73 | Harold Edgerton: Ten Dye Transfer Photographs | $13,970 | Sotheby's | Oct 2025 |
| 3 | Select group of 7 stop-motion photographs, 1938-1965 | Photographs | $8,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2008 |
| 4 | Milk Drop Coronet and Bouncing Golf Ball | Pencil | $5,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2017 |
| 5 | Death of a lightbulb, circa 1936 | Oversized ferrotyped silver print | $4,560 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2013 |
| 6 | Goutte de lait, 1957 | Tirage chromogène | $4,446 | Artcurial | Nov 2005 |
| 7 | "Milk Drop Coronet." | — | $4,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2013 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ten Dye Transfer Photographs, 1938 | Photographs | $27,940 | Sotheby's | Apr 2025 |
| 2 | Milk Drop Coronet, 1957 | Pencil | $4,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2017 |
| 3 | Milk Drop Coronet, 1957 | Pencil on verso | $4,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 34 | $2,370 |
| Other | 16 | $2,168 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $2,307 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 8 | $1,641 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 55 results from 13 houses · How we compute these figures
Dr. Harold Edgerton is an American artist with 80 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $2,340. 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 Dr. Harold Edgerton sold in 2025 for $13,970, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Dr. Harold Edgerton record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Dr. Harold Edgerton on OpeningBid →What is a Dr. Harold Edgerton work worth?
Across 53 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dr. Harold Edgerton work is $2,340.
The median Dr. Harold Edgerton photograph sells for $2,340 across 39 lots.
The median Dr. Harold Edgerton print sells for $3,875 across 2 lots.
The median Dr. Harold Edgerton work on paper sells for $2,211 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Dr. Harold Edgerton photographs typically sell for $1,562–$3,750 (the middle half of 28 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 | 2 | $3,875 | $4,000 | — | 2024-10-31 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $2,211 | $2,211 | — | 2017-12-01 |
| Photography | 50 | $2,340†‡ | $27,940 | 78% | 2026-06-26 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $18,000 | $27,940 | — | 2025-10-21 |
† 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) | 28 | $1,562–$3,750‡ | $2,217‡ | $18,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $573–$5,844† | $2,450† | $27,940 |
† 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 | 2025 | $27,940 |
| Photography | 2008 | $18,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $4,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $3,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $2,211 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Dr. Harold Edgerton worth?
Across 53 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dr. Harold Edgerton work is $2,340. The median Dr. Harold Edgerton photograph sells for $2,340 across 39 lots. The median Dr. Harold Edgerton print sells for $3,875 across 2 lots. The median Dr. Harold Edgerton work on paper sells for $2,211 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Dr. Harold Edgerton photographs typically sell for $1,562–$3,750 (the middle half of 28 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 Dr. Harold Edgerton photograph?
Based on 39 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dr. Harold Edgerton photograph is $2,340. 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 Dr. Harold Edgerton's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Dr. Harold Edgerton photograph is $27,940.
What is the average price of a small Dr. Harold Edgerton photograph?
Based on 28 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Dr. Harold Edgerton photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,217, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a medium Dr. Harold Edgerton photograph?
Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Dr. Harold Edgerton photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,450, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Dr. Harold Edgerton's auction record?
Dr. Harold Edgerton's auction record is $27,940, set in 2025.
See the full Dr. Harold Edgerton record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Dr. Harold Edgerton on OpeningBid →