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

# Maurice Sendak (1928–2012)

## What is Maurice Sendak’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 212 auction results for Maurice Sendak at 10 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $7,560 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,780–$13,860, n=33). The auction record is $52,920 for Sendak in Philadelphia (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sendak in Philadelphia, 1995 | Pencil | $52,920 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 2 | New York is Book Country: Tenth Anniversary, 1988 | Pencil | $40,000 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 3 | Really Rosie, 1980 | Ink | $30,240 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 4 | Little Bear and His Parents, 1981 | Pencil | $28,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2017 |
| 5 | Literary Lunch, 1928 | Ink | $27,720 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 6 | Panorama of children's book characters, 1928 | Pencil on tracing paper | $25,200 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 7 | Wild Readers, 1968 | Pencil | $17,640 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 8 | The Wild Things, 1982 | Pencil | $17,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jul 2020 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wild Thing, 1984 | Etching with gray wash, on wove paper with Tyler Graphics blindstamp | $30,240 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 2 | New York Is Book Country, 25th Anniversary poster artwork, 2003 | Watercolor and pencil on paper | $17,640 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 28 | $4,032 |
| Prints | 17 | $3,024 |
| Other | 21 | $720 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $10,710 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 42 | $4,391 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 212 results from 10 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Maurice Sendak is an American artist with 243 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $500. 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 Maurice Sendak is recorded as sold in 2026 for $18,797; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Maurice Sendak work worth?

Across 180 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Maurice Sendak work is $500.

The median Maurice Sendak print sells for $300 across 72 lots.

The median Maurice Sendak work on paper sells for $3,276 across 53 lots.

The median Maurice Sendak sculpture sells for $11,970 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Maurice Sendak work on papers typically sell for $900–$7,875 (the middle half of 44 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Maurice Sendak prints typically sell for $88–$475 (the middle half of 39 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 | 84 | $300† | $30,240 | 85.7% | 2026-08-14 |
| Works on Paper | 60 | $3,276†‡ | $52,920 | 88.3% | 2026-05-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $11,970 | $11,970 | — | 2025-06-12 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $27,720‡ | $52,920 | — | 2026-05-27 |

† 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) | 39 | $88–$475† | $250† | $17,640 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $125–$850† | $448† | $30,240 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 44 | $900–$7,875†‡ | $3,013†‡ | $52,920 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $52,920 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $40,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $30,240 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $17,640 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $11,970 |

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 Maurice Sendak worth?

Across 180 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Maurice Sendak work is $500. The median Maurice Sendak print sells for $300 across 72 lots. The median Maurice Sendak work on paper sells for $3,276 across 53 lots. The median Maurice Sendak sculpture sells for $11,970 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Maurice Sendak work on papers typically sell for $900–$7,875 (the middle half of 44 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Maurice Sendak prints typically sell for $88–$475 (the middle half of 39 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 Maurice Sendak print?

Based on 72 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Maurice Sendak print is $300. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Maurice Sendak's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Maurice Sendak print is $30,240.

### What is the average price of a Maurice Sendak work on paper?

Based on 53 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Maurice Sendak work on paper is $3,276. 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 Maurice Sendak's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Maurice Sendak work on paper is $52,920.

### What is the average price of a small Maurice Sendak work on paper?

Based on 44 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Maurice Sendak work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,013, 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 Maurice Sendak print?

Based on 39 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Maurice Sendak print (small (under 50 cm)) is $250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Maurice Sendak's auction record?

Maurice Sendak's auction record is $52,920, 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, “Maurice Sendak auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/maurice-sendak (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.