> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-speed-3 · updated 2026-11-02

# John Speed (1552–1629)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 473 auction results for John Speed at 30 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $625 including buyer’s premium (middle half $437–$812, n=17). The auction record is $79,500 for The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain . . . together with a Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World (2003, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain . . . together with a Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World | Atlas | $79,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2003 |
| 2 | A New and Accurat Map of the World, 1676 | Uncolored print | $6,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2017 |
| 3 | A Map of Virginia and Maryland, 1676 | SPEED | $5,040 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2012 |
| 4 | A New Description of Carolina | Map | $3,910 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2003 |
| 5 | A Map of Virginia and Maryland, 1676 | SPEED | $3,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2015 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine... As Also A Prospect of the most famous Parts of the World, 1676 | 5 parts in one volume, 86 (of 96) double-page engraved maps. Folio, modern buckram | $8,125 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2017 |
| 2 | A New and Accurate Map of the World | Hand-colored engraving | $6,600 | John Moran Auctioneers | Sep 2010 |
| 3 | Maps of four provinces; Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connaught, 1610 | Engravings | $5,626 | James Adam Salesrooms | Mar 2011 |
| 4 | A Map of Virginia and Maryland, 1676 | Double-page engraved map, outline hand-color | $3,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2015 |
| 5 | America, 1662 | Hand-colored double-page engraved map | $3,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jul 2020 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Prints | 72 | $744 |
| Other | 42 | $458 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 99 | $647 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 473 results from 30 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Speed is an English artist with 389 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $430. 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 Speed sold in 2026 for $962, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a John Speed work worth?

Across 332 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Speed work is $430.

The median John Speed print sells for $394 across 276 lots.

The median John Speed photograph sells for $350 across 9 lots.

The median John Speed work on paper sells for $390 across 6 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) John Speed prints typically sell for $233–$691 (the middle half of 255 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 | 310 | $394†‡ | $6,750 | 89% | 2026-08-01 |
| Works on Paper | 7 | $390† | $1,000 | 85.7% | 2022-06-13 |
| Photography | 9 | $350‡ | $592‡ | — | 2021-09-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 24 | $3,705†‡ | $79,500 | — | 2025-09-03 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 255 | $233–$691†‡ | $400†‡ | $6,750 |

† 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) | 6 | $258–$508† | $390† | $1,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $265–$484‡ | $350‡ | $592‡ |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $6,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $6,600 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $1,000 |
| Photography | 2021 | $592‡ |
| Photography | 2021 | $538‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $510 |

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

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 Speed worth?

Across 332 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Speed work is $430. The median John Speed print sells for $394 across 276 lots. The median John Speed photograph sells for $350 across 9 lots. The median John Speed work on paper sells for $390 across 6 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) John Speed prints typically sell for $233–$691 (the middle half of 255 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 Speed print?

Based on 276 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Speed print is $394. 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 Speed's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Speed print is $6,750.

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

Based on 255 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium John Speed print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $400, 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 Speed's auction record?

John Speed's auction record is $79,500, set in 2003.

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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, “John Speed auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-speed-3 (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.