> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/j-r-r-tolkien · updated 2026-11-01

# J. R. R. Tolkien

J. R. R. Tolkien is an artist with 10 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $842. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by J. R. R. Tolkien is recorded as sold in 2025 for $1,882; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a J. R. R. Tolkien work worth?

Across 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a J. R. R. Tolkien work is $842.

The median J. R. R. Tolkien print sells for $1,882 across 3 lots.

The median J. R. R. Tolkien work on paper sells for $541 across 2 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 | 4 | $1,882‡ | $1,892 | 75% | 2025-09-03 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $541† | $1,038† | — | 2023-11-28 |

† 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 | 2023 | $1,892 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $1,882‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $1,038† |
| Works on Paper | 1993 | $44 |

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

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a J. R. R. Tolkien worth?

Across 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a J. R. R. Tolkien work is $842. The median J. R. R. Tolkien print sells for $1,882 across 3 lots. The median J. R. R. Tolkien work on paper sells for $541 across 2 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 J. R. R. Tolkien's auction record?

J. R. R. Tolkien's auction record is $2,185, set in 1995.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “J. R. R. Tolkien auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/j-r-r-tolkien (updated 2026-11-01).

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.