John Thomson (1837–1921)
John Thomson is a Scottish artist with 78 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $825. 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 Thomson is recorded as sold in 2026 for $1,367; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full John Thomson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View John Thomson on OpeningBid →What is a John Thomson work worth?
Across 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Thomson work is $825.
The median John Thomson photograph sells for $3,534 across 25 lots.
The median John Thomson print sells for $224 across 13 lots.
The median John Thomson painting sells for $477 across 2 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 | 18 | $224†‡ | $826† | 72.2% | 2024-03-29 |
| Paintings | 4 | $477‡ | $822 | 50% | 2023-11-22 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $2,300 | $2,300 | — | 1996-04-24 |
| Photography | 33 | $3,534‡ | $60,000 | 75.8% | 2026-07-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $45,000 | $60,000 | — | 2017-10-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
John Thomson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (18 lots) median $224 with 72.2% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $477, record $822. A typical John Thomson painting sells for around 2.1× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $45,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $205–$423†‡ | $302†‡ | $826† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $828–$7,800‡ | $1,620‡ | $45,000 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2013 | $60,000 |
| Photography | 2017 | $45,000 |
| Works on Paper | 1996 | $2,300 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $826† |
| Paintings | 2023 | $822 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $822‡ |
| Paintings | 2005 | $132‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 John Thomson worth?
Across 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Thomson work is $825. The median John Thomson photograph sells for $3,534 across 25 lots. The median John Thomson print sells for $224 across 13 lots. The median John Thomson painting sells for $477 across 2 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 Thomson photograph?
Based on 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Thomson photograph is $3,534. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is John Thomson's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a John Thomson photograph is $60,000.
What is the average price of a John Thomson print?
Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Thomson print is $224. 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 Thomson's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a John Thomson print is $826. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $826 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a small John Thomson photograph?
Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Thomson photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,620, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a medium John Thomson print?
Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium John Thomson print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $302, 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 Thomson's auction record?
John Thomson's auction record is $60,000, set in 2013.
See the full John Thomson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View John Thomson on OpeningBid →