> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-james-audubon · updated 2026-11-03

# John James Audubon (1785–1851)

## What is John James Audubon’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,877 auction results for John James Audubon at 41 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,250 including buyer’s premium (middle half $312–$2,625, n=117). The auction record is $6,642,400 for The Birds of America (2019, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Birds of America, 1827–1838 | PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE CONSTRAINTS OF PHOTOGRAPHING A BOOK OF THIS SIZE, THE MARGINS OF SOME OF THE PLATES ILLUSTRATED | $6,642,400 | Sotheby's | Dec 2019 |
| 2 | White-Headed Eagle, 1828 | Oil paint | $756,000 | Sotheby's | Jan 2023 |
| 3 | Redhead Duck, 1785 | Graphite | $251,500 | Christie's | Apr 2002 |
| 4 | A Chaffinch, Bullfinch and Greenfinch on a Branch of Budding Chestnuts, 1785 | Drawing | $248,000 | Christie's | Nov 2001 |
| 5 | A Pair of Boat-Tailed Grackles, 1785 | Watercolor | $226,000 | Christie's | Nov 2001 |
| 6 | Coot, 1802 | Watercolor | $214,200 | Sotheby's | Sep 2019 |
| 7 | Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, 1785 | Pencil | $146,500 | Christie's | Dec 2009 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Birds of America, 1785 | Chromolithography | $271,999 | Neal Auction Company | Nov 2009 |
| 2 | Louisiana Heron, 1785 | Aquatint | $137,425 | Neal Auction Company | Sep 2010 |
| 3 | Great American Cock Male, Wild Turkey, 1785 | Aquatint | $131,450 | Neal Auction Company | Sep 2010 |

**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 17 | $7,200 |
| Prints | 874 | $1,625 |
| Other | 57 | $610 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 794 | $1,570 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $928 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 77 | $920 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,877 results from 41 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John James Audubon is an American artist with 2,652 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $2,400. 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 James Audubon is recorded as sold in 2026 for $4,000; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a John James Audubon work worth?

Across 1,817 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John James Audubon work is $2,400.

The median John James Audubon print sells for $2,395 across 1,694 lots.

The median John James Audubon photograph sells for $384 across 14 lots.

The median John James Audubon work on paper sells for $82,950 across 14 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) John James Audubon prints typically sell for $1,075–$8,000 (the middle half of 1,489 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) John James Audubon prints typically sell for $120–$941 (the middle half of 134 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 | 2,019 | $2,395†‡ | $288,000† | 83.9% | 2026-09-09 |
| Paintings | 3 | $2,168 | $756,000 | — | 2024-12-17 |
| Works on Paper | 17 | $82,950† | $251,500 | 82.4% | 2021-09-25 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $5,500 | $5,500 | — | 2010-06-06 |
| Photography | 21 | $384† | $6.6M | 66.7% | 2024-04-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 94 | $122,738† | $6.6M | — | 2026-06-27 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

John James Audubon's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2,019 lots) median $2,395 with 83.9% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $2,168, record $756,000. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 94 lots) the median is $122,738.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 134 | $120–$941†‡ | $366†‡ | $23,400 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 1,489 | $1,075–$8,000†‡ | $2,700†‡ | $288,000† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $656–$2,875† | $1,024† | $132,000† |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $59,000–$180,350† | $84,000† | $248,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $167–$473† | $384† | $6.6M |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2019 | $6.6M |
| Paintings | 2023 | $756,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $288,000† |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $287,500† |
| Works on Paper | 2002 | $251,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2001 | $248,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2010 | $5,500 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $2,168 |

† 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 John James Audubon worth?

Across 1,817 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John James Audubon work is $2,400. The median John James Audubon print sells for $2,395 across 1,694 lots. The median John James Audubon photograph sells for $384 across 14 lots. The median John James Audubon work on paper sells for $82,950 across 14 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) John James Audubon prints typically sell for $1,075–$8,000 (the middle half of 1,489 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) John James Audubon prints typically sell for $120–$941 (the middle half of 134 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 James Audubon print?

Based on 1,694 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John James Audubon print is $2,395. 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 James Audubon's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John James Audubon print is $288,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $288,000 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a John James Audubon photograph?

Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John James Audubon photograph is $384. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is John James Audubon's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John James Audubon photograph is $6,642,400.

### What is the average price of a John James Audubon work on paper?

Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John James Audubon work on paper is $82,950. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is John James Audubon's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John James Audubon work on paper is $251,500.

### What is the average price of a medium John James Audubon print?

Based on 1,489 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium John James Audubon print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,700, 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 James Audubon print?

Based on 134 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John James Audubon print (small (under 50 cm)) is $366, 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 James Audubon's auction record?

John James Audubon's auction record is $6,642,400, set in 2019.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “John James Audubon auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-james-audubon (updated 2026-11-03).

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.