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

# Philippe Halsman (1906–1979)

## What is Philippe Halsman’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 265 | $1,657 |
| Other | 73 | $600 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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, “Philippe Halsman auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/philippe-halsman (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.