> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/james-sowerby · updated 2026-11-02

# James Sowerby (1756–1822)

James Sowerby is a British artist with 75 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $370. 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 Sowerby sold in 2025 for $31,750, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 James Sowerby works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [James Sowerby on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/james-sowerby?ref=kg:james-sowerby) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a James Sowerby work worth?

Across 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Sowerby work is $370.

The median James Sowerby print sells for $188 across 27 lots.

The median James Sowerby work on paper sells for $424 across 3 lots.

The median James Sowerby sculpture sells for $5,757 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 | 50 | $188†‡ | $1,118 | 54% | 2026-04-19 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $424†‡ | $1,156† | — | 2021-02-25 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $5,757 | $5,757 | — | 2022-11-29 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $17,780 | $31,750 | — | 2025-12-12 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $46–$241†‡ | $205†‡ | $533‡ |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $5,757 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $1,156† |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $1,118 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $782† |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $424 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 James Sowerby worth?

Across 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Sowerby work is $370. The median James Sowerby print sells for $188 across 27 lots. The median James Sowerby work on paper sells for $424 across 3 lots. The median James Sowerby sculpture sells for $5,757 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 James Sowerby print?

Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Sowerby print is $188. 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 Sowerby's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a James Sowerby print is $1,118.

### What is the average price of a small James Sowerby print?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Sowerby print (small (under 50 cm)) is $205, 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 Sowerby's auction record?

James Sowerby's auction record is $31,750, set in 2025.

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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, “James Sowerby auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/james-sowerby (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.