Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850)
What is Honoré de Balzac’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 58 auction results for Honoré de Balzac at 27 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $234 including buyer’s premium (middle half $155–$379, n=6). The auction record is $20,066 for Le Chef-d’œuvre inconnu (2016, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le Chef-d’œuvre inconnu, 1931 | 13 eaux-fortes hors texte et 67 bois | $20,066 | Christie's | Dec 2016 |
| 2 | La Comedie Humaine, 1888-later | Black half morocco, color illustrations | $6,250 | Christie's | Oct 2019 |
| 3 | Sur la destruction projettée du monument élevé au duc de Berry, 1832 | Manuscrit de travail abondamment remanié | $5,561 | Sotheby's | Dec 2023 |
| 4 | Histoire intellectuelle de Louis Lambert, 1833 | Book, printed on China paper, dark green half-morocco binding, ribbed spine with gilt decoration, marbled edges | $5,356 | Ader | Nov 2015 |
| 5 | Lettre autographe signée à Alfred de Vigny, 1831 | Autograph letter on paper | $3,552 | Artcurial | Nov 2016 |
| 6 | Lettre autographe paraphée adressée à Monsieur [Delestre-Poirson], 1799 | Bois | $3,398 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 7 | Lettre autographe signée à Hippolyte Souverain | 2 pages in-8 | $2,583 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Jun 2022 |
| 8 | Lettre autographe signée à son éditeur H. Delloye | Autograph letter, 3 pages in-8 | $2,296 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Jun 2022 |
| 9 | Bust of Honoré de Balzac | Chased and patinated bronze with sea green marble base | $1,414 | Christophe Joron-Derem | Jun 2022 |
| 10 | Un grand homme de province à Paris, Scène de la Vie de Province, 1839 | 2 volumes in-8, demi-maroquin brun à coins, filets dorés, dos lisse orné, tête dorée, non rogné | $1,083 | Ader | Oct 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 23 | $405 |
| Sculpture | 6 | $246 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $2,241 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 58 results from 27 houses · How we compute these figures
Honoré de Balzac is a French artist with 76 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $379. 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 Honoré de Balzac sold in 2026 for $405, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Honoré de Balzac record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Honoré de Balzac on OpeningBid →What is a Honoré de Balzac work worth?
Across 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Honoré de Balzac work is $379.
The median Honoré de Balzac print sells for $449 across 18 lots.
The median Honoré de Balzac sculpture sells for $250 across 4 lots.
The median Honoré de Balzac work on paper sells for $3,552 across 1 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 | 31 | $449†‡ | $38,222† | 58.1% | 2026-04-01 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $3,552 | $3,552 | — | 2016-11-15 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 4 | $250†‡ | $1,414 | — | 2022-06-13 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $20,066† | $38,222† | — | 2019-10-17 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $38,222† |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $20,066 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $3,552 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $1,414 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2010 | $250‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Honoré de Balzac worth?
Across 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Honoré de Balzac work is $379. The median Honoré de Balzac print sells for $449 across 18 lots. The median Honoré de Balzac sculpture sells for $250 across 4 lots. The median Honoré de Balzac work on paper sells for $3,552 across 1 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 Honoré de Balzac print?
Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Honoré de Balzac print is $449. 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 Honoré de Balzac's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Honoré de Balzac print is $38,222. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $38,222 (buyer's premium not included).
What is Honoré de Balzac's auction record?
Honoré de Balzac's auction record is $38,222, set in 2011. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $38,222 (buyer's premium not included).
See the full Honoré de Balzac record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Honoré de Balzac on OpeningBid →