> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/harold-eugene-edgerton · updated 2026-11-02

# Harold Eugene Edgerton (1903–1990)

## What is Harold Eugene Edgerton’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 222 auction results for Harold Eugene Edgerton at 19 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,000 including buyer’s premium (middle half $520–$1,825, n=39). The auction record is $23,940 for Ten Dye Transfer Photographs (2023, Los Angeles Modern Auctions). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ten Dye Transfer Photographs, 1985 | Cartes-de-visite | $23,940 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Aug 2023 |
| 2 | Seeing the Unseen, 1977 | Boston: Gus Kayafas, 1977. Seven gelatin silver and five dye transfer prints | $16,250 | Phillips | Oct 2014 |
| 3 | Milk drop coronet | Photograph | $16,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2006 |
| 4 | Seeing the Unseen: Twelve Photographs, 1977 | Boston: Gus Kufayas, 1977. Five dye transfer prints and seven gelatin silver prints | $13,970 | Phillips | Apr 2025 |
| 5 | Seeing the Unseen: Twelve Photographs by Harold Edgerton, 1938-1964 | Dye transfer (5) and silver prints (7) | $13,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2016 |
| 6 | Ten Dye Transfer Photographs, 1985 | Littleton: Palm Press Inc., 1985. Ten dye transfer prints | $12,500 | Phillips | Oct 2013 |
| 7 | A series of 8 motion studies of a milk drop, 1930s | Ferrotyped silver prints | $11,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2019 |
| 8 | Seeing the Unseen, 1977 | Gelatin silver prints | $10,880 | Bonhams | Sep 2023 |
| 9 | Cutting the card quickly, 1903 | Gelatin silver print | $10,077 | Christie's | Nov 2013 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ten Dye Transfer Photographs, 1985 | Dye transfer prints | $12,500 | Christie's | Apr 2018 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 5 | $1,638 |
| Photographs | 181 | $1,625 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 12 | $1,625 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 167 | $1,610 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 222 results from 19 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Harold Eugene Edgerton is an American artist with 357 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $1,659. 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 Harold Eugene Edgerton sold in 2025 for $2,080, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Harold Eugene Edgerton work worth?

Across 220 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Harold Eugene Edgerton work is $1,659.

The median Harold Eugene Edgerton photograph sells for $1,659 across 214 lots.

The median Harold Eugene Edgerton work on paper sells for $1,821 across 4 lots.

The median Harold Eugene Edgerton print sells for $237 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Harold Eugene Edgerton photographs typically sell for $889–$3,120 (the middle half of 189 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 | 1 | $237 | $237 | — | 2010-01-29 |
| Works on Paper | 4 | $1,821 | $6,382 | — | 2025-07-31 |
| Photography | 316 | $1,659†‡ | $23,940 | 67.7% | 2025-12-11 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $12,999‡ | $23,940 | — | 2025-04-02 |

† 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) | 189 | $889–$3,120†‡ | $1,659†‡ | $16,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $734–$3,666‡ | $1,760‡ | $23,940 |

† 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 | 2023 | $23,940 |
| Photography | 2014 | $16,250 |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $6,382 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $1,992 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $237 |

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 Harold Eugene Edgerton worth?

Across 220 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Harold Eugene Edgerton work is $1,659. The median Harold Eugene Edgerton photograph sells for $1,659 across 214 lots. The median Harold Eugene Edgerton work on paper sells for $1,821 across 4 lots. The median Harold Eugene Edgerton print sells for $237 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Harold Eugene Edgerton photographs typically sell for $889–$3,120 (the middle half of 189 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 Harold Eugene Edgerton photograph?

Based on 214 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Harold Eugene Edgerton photograph is $1,659. 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 Harold Eugene Edgerton's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Harold Eugene Edgerton photograph is $23,940.

### What is the average price of a small Harold Eugene Edgerton photograph?

Based on 189 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Harold Eugene Edgerton photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,659, 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 medium Harold Eugene Edgerton photograph?

Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Harold Eugene Edgerton photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,760, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Harold Eugene Edgerton's auction record?

Harold Eugene Edgerton's auction record is $23,940, set in 2023.

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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, “Harold Eugene Edgerton auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/harold-eugene-edgerton (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.