William Lester Stevens (1888–1969)
What is William Lester Stevens’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 237 auction results for William Lester Stevens at 14 houses since 1988. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,452 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,135–$1,863, n=7). The auction record is $23,500 for At the Docks (2005, Skinner (Bonhams Skinner)). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | At the Docks | Oil on canvas | $23,500 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Nov 2005 |
| 2 | At the Docks | Oil on canvas | $23,500 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Nov 2005 |
| 3 | Boats at Rockport, 1888 | Oil paint | $20,000 | Christie's | Sep 2007 |
| 4 | A Busy Harbor, Summertime, 1888 | Oil on canvas | $15,360 | Bonhams | Aug 2026 |
| 5 | Untitled (Harbor Scene), 1888 | Painting | $13,750 | Rago Arts | Nov 2016 |
| 6 | The Bridge | Oil on Masonite | $12,925 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | May 2004 |
| 7 | Sun on Bass Rocks, 1922 | Oil on canvas | $12,000 | Grogan & Company | Oct 2013 |
| 8 | New England Rural | Oil on canvas | $11,163 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Nov 2004 |
| 9 | Cliffs of Grand Manan | Oil on Masonite | $9,400 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | May 2004 |
| 10 | Rockport Coastal View, Motif No. 1 | Oil on canvas | $8,888 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Sep 2008 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 139 | $2,607 |
| Works on paper | 38 | $1,058 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 145 | $2,370 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $1,058 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 237 results from 14 houses · How we compute these figures
William Lester Stevens is an American artist with 277 auction lots recorded since 1988, median price $2,070. 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 William Lester Stevens sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $3,600 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
3 William Lester Stevens works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow William Lester Stevens free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full William Lester Stevens record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Lester Stevens on OpeningBid →What is a William Lester Stevens work worth?
Across 233 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Lester Stevens work is $2,070.
The median William Lester Stevens painting sells for $2,607 across 176 lots.
The median William Lester Stevens work on paper sells for $900 across 55 lots.
The median William Lester Stevens print sells for $1,410 across 1 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) William Lester Stevens paintings typically sell for $1,659–$4,687 (the middle half of 145 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) William Lester Stevens work on papers typically sell for $775–$1,672 (the middle half of 35 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 | 1 | $1,410 | $1,410 | — | 2002-09-20 |
| Paintings | 203 | $2,607†‡ | $23,500 | 86.7% | 2026-09-09 |
| Works on Paper | 65 | $900†‡ | $2,585 | 84.6% | 2026-09-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $12,462‡ | $23,500 | — | 2026-08-12 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
William Lester Stevens's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $1,410. Paintings (203 lots) median $2,607, record $23,500. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 12 lots) the median is $12,462.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 27 | $750–$2,099†‡ | $1,300†‡ | $5,462‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 145 | $1,659–$4,687†‡ | $2,812†‡ | $23,500 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $382–$882†‡ | $500†‡ | $2,125 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 35 | $775–$1,672†‡ | $1,067†‡ | $2,585 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2005 | $23,500 |
| Paintings | 2005 | $23,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $2,585 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $2,233 |
| Prints & Editions | 2002 | $1,410 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Lester Stevens worth?
Across 233 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Lester Stevens work is $2,070. The median William Lester Stevens painting sells for $2,607 across 176 lots. The median William Lester Stevens work on paper sells for $900 across 55 lots. The median William Lester Stevens print sells for $1,410 across 1 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) William Lester Stevens paintings typically sell for $1,659–$4,687 (the middle half of 145 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) William Lester Stevens work on papers typically sell for $775–$1,672 (the middle half of 35 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 William Lester Stevens painting?
Based on 176 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Lester Stevens painting is $2,607. 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 William Lester Stevens's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Lester Stevens painting is $23,500.
What is the average price of a William Lester Stevens work on paper?
Based on 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Lester Stevens work on paper is $900. 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 William Lester Stevens's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Lester Stevens work on paper is $2,585.
What is the average price of a medium William Lester Stevens painting?
Based on 145 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Lester Stevens painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,812, 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 William Lester Stevens work on paper?
Based on 35 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Lester Stevens work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,067, 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 William Lester Stevens's auction record?
William Lester Stevens's auction record is $23,500, set in 2005.
See the full William Lester Stevens record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Lester Stevens on OpeningBid →