William Simpson (1823–1899)
William Simpson is a Scottish artist with 40 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $910. 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 Simpson sold in 2025 for $68,442, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full William Simpson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Simpson on OpeningBid →What is a William Simpson work worth?
Across 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Simpson work is $910.
The median William Simpson print sells for $281 across 16 lots.
The median William Simpson work on paper sells for $8,909 across 4 lots.
The median William Simpson painting sells for $2,860 across 1 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 | 26 | $281†‡ | $68,442 | 61.5% | 2026-07-21 |
| Paintings | 1 | $2,860‡ | $2,860‡ | — | 2010-11-19 |
| Works on Paper | 11 | $8,909 | $16,278 | 36.4% | 2007-06-05 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
William Simpson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (26 lots) median $281 with 61.5% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $2,860, record $2,860. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical William Simpson painting sells for around 10× the price of a typical print.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $67–$550‡ | $303‡ | $725‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $126–$1,055†‡ | $166†‡ | $68,442 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $68,442 |
| Works on Paper | 2003 | $16,278 |
| Works on Paper | 2001 | $13,341 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $2,860‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $1,338‡ |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Simpson worth?
Across 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Simpson work is $910. The median William Simpson print sells for $281 across 16 lots. The median William Simpson work on paper sells for $8,909 across 4 lots. The median William Simpson painting sells for $2,860 across 1 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 Simpson print?
Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Simpson print is $281. 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 Simpson's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Simpson print is $68,442.
What is the average price of a William Simpson work on paper?
Based on 4 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Simpson work on paper is $8,909.
What is William Simpson's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Simpson work on paper is $16,278.
What is William Simpson's auction record?
William Simpson's auction record is $68,442, set in 2025.
See the full William Simpson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Simpson on OpeningBid →