James Castle (1899–1977)
What is James Castle’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 110 auction results for James Castle at 11 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $8,820 including buyer’s premium (middle half $5,481–$17,780, n=27). The auction record is $47,500 for Untitled Construction (Large Blue Jacket) (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled Construction (Large Blue Jacket), 1899 | Watercolor, crayon and string on pieced and applied repurposed paper | $47,500 | Christie's | Jan 2019 |
| 2 | Untitled Construction, 1899 | Found paper and card, string, thread and soot and spit | $43,750 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 3 | UNTITLED (ABSTRACT TITLE BOOK), 1899 | Book | $31,500 | Christie's | Jan 2025 |
| 4 | Untitled (Coat), 1899 | Soot, spit, string and blue pigment on repurposed card | $25,000 | Christie's | Feb 2022 |
| 5 | Untitled (Interior Scene, Double-Sided), 1899 | Soot and spit on repurposed folder | $24,130 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 6 | Untitled (Post Office), 1899 | Soot and spit on repurposed Kellogg's card | $24,130 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 7 | Untitled (Exterior Barn), 1899 | Soot and spit on found paper | $22,860 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 8 | Untitled (Bedroom), 1899 | Soot and spit on repurposed folder | $21,590 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 9 | Untitled (Interior with Tables, Chairs and Desk) | Soot and spit on cardboard | $20,739 | Christie's | Jan 2004 |
| 10 | Untitled (Patterned Landscape with House and Three Figures) | Soot and spit, ink and colored washes on found paper | $19,200 | Christie's | Oct 2026 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 55 | $7,560 |
| Other | 44 | $6,875 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 100 | $7,050 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 110 results from 11 houses · How we compute these figures
James Castle is an American artist with 117 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $6,875. 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 James Castle sold in 2026 for $19,200, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full James Castle record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Castle on OpeningBid →What is a James Castle work worth?
Across 107 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Castle work is $6,875.
The median James Castle work on paper sells for $7,500 across 63 lots.
The median James Castle painting sells for $4,250 across 5 lots.
The median James Castle print sells for $504 across 5 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) James Castle work on papers typically sell for $4,756–$10,392 (the middle half of 63 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 | 5 | $504 | $8,190 | — | 2023-01-23 |
| Paintings | 5 | $4,250† | $8,190 | — | 2025-01-22 |
| Works on Paper | 71 | $7,500 | $47,500 | 88.7% | 2026-10-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $28,250 | $47,500 | — | 2026-02-27 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
James Castle's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $504. Paintings (5 lots) median $4,250, record $8,190. A typical James Castle painting sells for around 8.4× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $28,250.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $504–$3,528 | $504 | $8,190 |
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $3,250–$4,250† | $4,250† | $8,190 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 63 | $4,756–$10,392 | $7,500 | $47,500 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $47,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $43,750 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $8,190 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $8,190 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $4,250† |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $3,528 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a James Castle worth?
Across 107 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Castle work is $6,875. The median James Castle work on paper sells for $7,500 across 63 lots. The median James Castle painting sells for $4,250 across 5 lots. The median James Castle print sells for $504 across 5 lots. Small (under 50 cm) James Castle work on papers typically sell for $4,756–$10,392 (the middle half of 63 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 James Castle work on paper?
Based on 63 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Castle work on paper is $7,500.
What is James Castle's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Castle work on paper is $47,500.
What is the average price of a small James Castle work on paper?
Based on 63 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Castle work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $7,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is James Castle's auction record?
James Castle's auction record is $47,500, set in 2019.
See the full James Castle record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Castle on OpeningBid →