Roy DeCarava (1919–2009)
What is Roy DeCarava’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 94 auction results for Roy DeCarava at 9 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $26,255 including buyer’s premium (middle half $15,708–$40,845, n=6). The auction record is $100,000 for Portfolio entitled Roy DeCarava (2018, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hallway, New York, 1982 | Cartes-de-visite | $72,500 | Phillips | Oct 2019 |
| 2 | Roy De Carava, 1991 | 12 dust-grain photogravures | $67,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2007 |
| 3 | Portfolio entitled "Roy DeCarava." With 12 stunning, dust-grain photogravures, image size approximately 8x11 inches (20, 1919 | Photogravures | $57,600 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2009 |
| 4 | Dancers (Harlem), 1955 | Ink | $52,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2019 |
| 5 | Half Note | Cartes-de-visite | $50,400 | Sotheby's | Oct 2021 |
| 6 | Couple dancing, 1982 | Cartes-de-visite | $50,000 | Christie's | Oct 2013 |
| 7 | Hallway, New York, 1953 | Ink on recto | $50,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2025 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portfolio entitled Roy DeCarava, 1991 | Hand printed dust-grain photogravures | $100,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2018 |
| 2 | Portfolio entitled "Roy DeCarava.", 1950-1979 | Photogravures | $57,200 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2014 |
| 3 | Portfolio entitled Roy DeCarava, 1950-1979 | Hand printed dust-grain photogravures | $45,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 48 | $16,875 |
| Works on paper | 8 | $10,400 |
| Other | 15 | $10,000 |
| Prints | 19 | $2,750 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 87 | $10,625 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 94 results from 9 houses · How we compute these figures
Roy DeCarava is an American artist with 112 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $9,600. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by Roy DeCarava sold in 2026 for $24,130, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Roy DeCarava record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Roy DeCarava on OpeningBid →What is a Roy DeCarava work worth?
Across 94 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roy DeCarava work is $9,600.
The median Roy DeCarava photograph sells for $12,900 across 74 lots.
The median Roy DeCarava print sells for $2,815 across 20 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Roy DeCarava photographs typically sell for $8,125–$29,595 (the middle half of 70 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Roy DeCarava prints typically sell for $1,438–$3,420 (the middle half of 20 sold lots).
Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 21 | $2,815 | $24,130 | 95.2% | 2026-10-15 |
| Photography | 79 | $12,900† | $100,000 | 93.7% | 2026-04-11 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $67,500 | $100,000 | — | 2019-10-01 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $1,438–$3,420 | $2,815 | $24,130 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 70 | $8,125–$29,595† | $14,212† | $100,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2018 | $100,000 |
| Photography | 2019 | $72,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $24,130 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $6,240 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Roy DeCarava worth?
Across 94 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Roy DeCarava work is $9,600. The median Roy DeCarava photograph sells for $12,900 across 74 lots. The median Roy DeCarava print sells for $2,815 across 20 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Roy DeCarava photographs typically sell for $8,125–$29,595 (the middle half of 70 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Roy DeCarava prints typically sell for $1,438–$3,420 (the middle half of 20 sold lots). Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a Roy DeCarava photograph?
Based on 74 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roy DeCarava photograph is $12,900. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Roy DeCarava's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Roy DeCarava photograph is $100,000.
What is the average price of a Roy DeCarava print?
Based on 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Roy DeCarava print is $2,815.
What is Roy DeCarava's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Roy DeCarava print is $24,130.
What is the average price of a small Roy DeCarava photograph?
Based on 70 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Roy DeCarava photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $14,212, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a small Roy DeCarava print?
Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Roy DeCarava print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,815, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Roy DeCarava's auction record?
Roy DeCarava's auction record is $100,000, set in 2018.
See the full Roy DeCarava record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Roy DeCarava on OpeningBid →