Philippe Halsman (1906–1979)
What is Philippe Halsman’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 392 auction results for Philippe Halsman at 47 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $739 including buyer’s premium (middle half $344–$1,755, n=122). The auction record is $40,250 for Marilyn Monroe Jumping (1998, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marilyn Monroe Jumping, 1906 | In pencil with copyright credit stamp on the verso | $40,250 | Christie's | Dec 1998 |
| 2 | Marilyn Jumping, 1906 | Cartes-de-visite | $40,000 | Christie's | Apr 2011 |
| 3 | and Marilyn Monroe, 1959, 1906 | Title, annotation 'return the print to ->' in pencil, 'Mrs. P. Halsman' address and Yvonne Halsman copyright credit stamps (on the verso) | $30,000 | Christie's | Apr 2014 |
| 4 | Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso, St. Paul de Vence, 1955 | — | $23,147 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 5 | Marilyn Monroe, LIFE cover portrait, 1906 | Cartes-de-visite | $21,250 | Christie's | Apr 2019 |
| 6 | dali skull | — | $18,750 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 7 | Dalí Atomicus, 1906 | Cartes-de-visite | $18,211 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 8 | Giorgio de Chirico and his wife, Rome, 1951 | — | $17,056 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 9 | Marilyn Monroe, 1954 | Hand-colored gelatin silver print | $12,500 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 10 | SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHS, 1948 | Photographs | $12,500 | Sotheby's | Oct 2009 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 265 | $1,657 |
| Other | 73 | $600 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 14 | $2,688 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 246 | $1,657 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 392 results from 47 houses · How we compute these figures
Philippe Halsman is an American artist with 680 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $1,200. 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 Philippe Halsman sold in 2026 for $1,905, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Philippe Halsman record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Philippe Halsman on OpeningBid →What is a Philippe Halsman work worth?
Across 390 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Philippe Halsman work is $1,200.
The median Philippe Halsman photograph sells for $1,386 across 294 lots.
The median Philippe Halsman print sells for $1,694 across 7 lots.
The median Philippe Halsman work on paper sells for $3,261 across 6 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Philippe Halsman photographs typically sell for $613–$3,012 (the middle half of 260 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 | 8 | $1,694‡ | $30,000 | 87.5% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $3,261 | $40,250 | — | 2025-07-31 |
| Photography | 404 | $1,386†‡ | $40,000 | 72.8% | 2026-10-02 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 20 | $12,500 | $40,250 | — | 2021-10-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $2,424–$26,026 | $3,261 | $40,250 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 260 | $613–$3,012†‡ | $1,375†‡ | $40,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 12 | $1,633–$5,670 | $3,670 | $12,500 |
† 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 | 1998 | $40,250 |
| Photography | 2011 | $40,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $33,600 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $30,000 |
| Photography | 2019 | $21,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $1,905 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Philippe Halsman worth?
Across 390 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Philippe Halsman work is $1,200. The median Philippe Halsman photograph sells for $1,386 across 294 lots. The median Philippe Halsman print sells for $1,694 across 7 lots. The median Philippe Halsman work on paper sells for $3,261 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Philippe Halsman photographs typically sell for $613–$3,012 (the middle half of 260 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 Philippe Halsman photograph?
Based on 294 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Philippe Halsman photograph is $1,386. 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 Philippe Halsman's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Philippe Halsman photograph is $40,000.
What is the average price of a small Philippe Halsman photograph?
Based on 260 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Philippe Halsman photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,375, 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 medium Philippe Halsman photograph?
Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Philippe Halsman photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,670, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Philippe Halsman's auction record?
Philippe Halsman's auction record is $40,250, set in 1998.
See the full Philippe Halsman record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Philippe Halsman on OpeningBid →