> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-swainson · updated 2026-11-01

# William (1789–1855)

William is an English artist with 22 auction lots recorded since 2022, median price $284. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by William sold in 2024 for a hammer price of $616 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William work worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William work is $284.

The median William work on paper sells for $276 across 21 lots.

The median William print sells for $5,951 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William work on papers typically sell for $243–$616 (the middle half of 21 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 | 1 | $5,951 | $5,951 | — | 2022-05-18 |
| Works on Paper | 21 | $276† | $1,428† | — | 2024-05-20 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $1,428† | $5,951 | — | 2024-02-15 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 21 | $243–$616† | $276† | $1,428† |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $5,951 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $1,428† |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $1,428† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William work is $284. The median William work on paper sells for $276 across 21 lots. The median William print sells for $5,951 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William work on papers typically sell for $243–$616 (the middle half of 21 sold lots). Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a William work on paper?

Based on 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William work on paper is $276. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William work on paper is $1,428. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,428 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a small William work on paper?

Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $276, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William's auction record?

William's auction record is $5,951, set in 2022.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “William auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-swainson (updated 2026-11-01).

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.