John Gould (1804–1881)
What is John Gould’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 379 auction results for John Gould at 34 houses since 1988. Over the last 24 months the median price was $229 including buyer’s premium (middle half $100–$690, n=61). The auction record is $375,831 for The Birds of Australia (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Birds of Great Britain, 1804 | 372; Sauer 23; Wood p.365; Zimmer p.261 | $118,323 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Birds of Australia, 1848-1869 | Lithograph | $375,831 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 2 | The birds of Asia, 1850-1883 | Lithograph | $148,766 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 3 | A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-Birds, 1861 | Lithograph | $86,128 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 4 | The Birds of Europe, 1837 | Lithograph | $86,128 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 5 | The Mammals of Australia, 1661 | Lithograph | $78,298 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 6 | The Birds of Europe, 1837 | Lithograph | $72,396 | Sotheby's | Jul 2025 |
| 7 | The birds of Australia [suppressed parts], 1837-1838 | Lithograph | $70,468 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 8 | A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans, 1804 | Lithographs | $67,000 | Neal Auction Company | May 2006 |
| 9 | The Birds of Great Britain, 1804 | 367 hand-colored lithographed plates | $62,140 | Neal Auction Company | Feb 2014 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 7 | $489 |
| Prints | 231 | $450 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 181 | $488 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 53 | $366 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 379 results from 34 houses · How we compute these figures
John Gould is a British (modern) artist with 483 auction lots recorded since 1988, median price $460. 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 John Gould sold in 2026 for $1,165, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full John Gould record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View John Gould on OpeningBid →What is a John Gould work worth?
Across 327 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Gould work is $460.
The median John Gould print sells for $402 across 326 lots.
The median John Gould work on paper sells for $2,288 across 10 lots.
The median John Gould photograph sells for $10,987 across 3 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) John Gould prints typically sell for $190–$1,007 (the middle half of 248 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) John Gould prints typically sell for $115–$632 (the middle half of 72 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 | 439 | $402†‡ | $375,831 | 74.3% | 2026-08-26 |
| Paintings | 1 | — | — | — | 2017-02-02 |
| Works on Paper | 16 | $2,288† | $43,200† | 62.5% | 2025-09-13 |
| Photography | 3 | $10,987† | $118,323 | — | 2025-12-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 20 | $71,432† | $375,831 | — | 2025-12-10 |
† 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) | 72 | $115–$632†‡ | $232†‡ | $30,000† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 248 | $190–$1,007†‡ | $455†‡ | $375,831 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $4,000–$38,400† | $33,600† | $43,200† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $375,831 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $148,766 |
| Photography | 2025 | $118,323 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $43,200† |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $38,400† |
| Photography | 2025 | $10,987 |
† 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 John Gould worth?
Across 327 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Gould work is $460. The median John Gould print sells for $402 across 326 lots. The median John Gould work on paper sells for $2,288 across 10 lots. The median John Gould photograph sells for $10,987 across 3 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) John Gould prints typically sell for $190–$1,007 (the middle half of 248 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) John Gould prints typically sell for $115–$632 (the middle half of 72 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 John Gould print?
Based on 326 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Gould print is $402. 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 John Gould's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a John Gould print is $375,831.
What is the average price of a John Gould work on paper?
Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Gould work on paper is $2,288. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is John Gould's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a John Gould work on paper is $43,200. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $43,200 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a medium John Gould print?
Based on 248 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium John Gould print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $455, 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 small John Gould print?
Based on 72 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Gould print (small (under 50 cm)) is $232, 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 John Gould's auction record?
John Gould's auction record is $375,831, set in 2022.
See the full John Gould record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View John Gould on OpeningBid →