> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-simpson · updated 2026-11-03

# 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.

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

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “William Simpson auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-simpson (updated 2026-11-03).

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.