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James Gillray (1757–1815)

What is James Gillray’s work worth?

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 450 auction results for James Gillray at 28 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $514 including buyer’s premium (middle half $492–$839, n=71). The auction record is $21,409 for The Genuine Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself, in two volumes. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1830. [With:] – Illustrative Description of the Genuine Works of Mr. James Gillray. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1830. (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

Top auction records: prints & editions
#WorkMediumPriceHouseSold
1The Genuine Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself, in two volumes. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1830. [With:] – Illustrative Description of the Genuine Works of Mr. James Gillray. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1830., 1756: John Louis Ketterlinus, (1852-1932, owner of the Philadelphia-based Ketterlinus Printing House, later Ketterlinus Lithographic Manufacturing Company; bookplate)$21,409Christie'sJul 2023
2A Collection of Caricatures, 1757Etching$12,260BonhamsDec 2015
3The Grand Coronation of Napoleone the 1st Emperor of France, from the Church of Notre Dame (BM 10362), 1815Etching$11,189BonhamsDec 2019
4Ci-Devant Occupations-or-Madame Talian and the Empress Josephine Dancing Naked Before Barrass in the Winter of 1797.-a Fact!, 1815Etching$10,699BonhamsDec 2019
5Presages of the Millenium; - with - The Destruction of the Faithful, 1815Engraving$7,737BonhamsDec 2021
6The Hand-Writing upon the Wall, 1815Engraving$7,432BonhamsDec 2019
7The Giant-Factotum Amusing Himself, 1756Engraving$6,852Christie'sDec 2014
8Phaeton alarm'd!, 1815Etching$6,055BonhamsDec 2021
9The Zenith of French Glory, 1757Etching with hand colouring$6,036BonhamsDec 2015
10A Collection of Caricatures including: Malagrida & Conspirators, consulting the Ghost of Oliver Cromwell; Triumphal Procession of Little Paul the Taylor upon his new Goose; Fortune Hunting; Patriot's deciding a Point of Honor!, 1756Handcoloured etchings$6,034Christie'sDec 2012
Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
MediumSalesMedian
Prints259$1,028
Other11$551
Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
SizeSalesMedian
Medium (50-120 cm)15$1,589
Small (under 50 cm)241$1,000

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 450 results from 28 houses · How we compute these figures

James Gillray is a British (modern) artist with 486 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $1,017. 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 Gillray sold in 2026 for $6,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

1 James Gillray work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow James Gillray free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.

See the full James Gillray record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

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What is a James Gillray work worth?

Across 367 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Gillray work is $1,017.

The median James Gillray print sells for $833 across 412 lots.

The median James Gillray work on paper sells for $2,535 across 4 lots.

The median James Gillray painting sells for $1,658 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) James Gillray prints typically sell for $411–$1,742 (the middle half of 367 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) James Gillray prints typically sell for $228–$2,065 (the middle half of 30 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

CategoryLots trackedMedian priceRecord priceSell-throughLast sale
Prints & Editions524$833†‡$29,254‡78.6%2026-09-30
Paintings5$1,658$2,49540%2020-10-07
Works on Paper5$2,535‡$6,00080%2026-03-10
Masterpieces (top of market)23$6,852‡$29,254‡—2026-03-10

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

James Gillray's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (524 lots) median $833 with 78.6% sell-through. Paintings (5 lots) median $1,658, record $2,495. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 23 lots) the median is $6,852.

Price by size

Prints & Editions

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)367$411–$1,742†‡$833†‡$29,254‡
medium (50–120 cm)30$228–$2,065†‡$1,026†‡$11,702‡

† 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

MediumYearPrice
Prints & Editions2015$29,254‡
Prints & Editions2015$16,382‡
Works on Paper2026$6,000
Works on Paper2015$2,535‡
Paintings2019$2,495
Paintings2020$821

‡ 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 James Gillray worth?

Across 367 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Gillray work is $1,017. The median James Gillray print sells for $833 across 412 lots. The median James Gillray work on paper sells for $2,535 across 4 lots. The median James Gillray painting sells for $1,658 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) James Gillray prints typically sell for $411–$1,742 (the middle half of 367 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) James Gillray prints typically sell for $228–$2,065 (the middle half of 30 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 Gillray print?

Based on 412 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Gillray print is $833. 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 James Gillray's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a James Gillray print is $29,254. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

What is the average price of a small James Gillray print?

Based on 367 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Gillray print (small (under 50 cm)) is $833, 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 James Gillray print?

Based on 30 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium James Gillray print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,026, 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 James Gillray's auction record?

James Gillray's auction record is $29,254, set in 2015. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

See the full James Gillray record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

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