What is a Carleton Watkins photograph worth?
1829–1916 · Price guide from past auction results
Based on 18 priced auction sales, works by Carleton Watkins have sold for a median of $12,484Sign up free to see. Half of them sold between $2,583Sign up free to see and $31,250Sign up free to see. For photographs alone, the median is $7,187Sign up free to see across 17 sales. In the last five years the median was $4,515Sign up free to see across 5 sales. These are past auction results, not a valuation: medium, size, condition and provenance all change what a particular work brings.
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Carleton Watkins prices by medium
- Auction results
- 27
- Sold rate
- 67%
- Active at auction
- 2003–2026
- Median price
- $12.5kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $156kSign up free to see Cape Horn, Columbia River, Phillips, Apr 2017
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 17 | $2.6k–$32.5kSign up free to see | $7.2kSign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Phillips (15), Bonhams (7), Lempertz (2)
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Typical range is the middle half of priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). Past auction results, not a valuation.
Recent Carleton Watkins sales
- Lower Yosemite Fall, Albumen print — $2,560Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Jul 14, 2026
- Devil's Gate and the Weber River, Weber Canyon, Utah, Mammoth-plate albumen print; mounted — $20,480Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Jul 14, 2026
- Buckeye Tree, photography — $943Sign up free to see, Hessink's Auctions, Apr 14, 2026
- Sentinel Rock, Echo Canyon, Utah; Witches Rock, Near Echo, Utah, Two oval albumen prints, each mounted — $4,515Sign up free to see, Phillips, Oct 9, 2025
- Tocoye, North Dome, 3729 Feet, Yosemite, Mammoth-plate albumen print — $17,780Sign up free to see, Phillips, Oct 11, 2023
- Virginia City From Water Flume, Glass positive — $25,000Sign up free to see, Phillips, Oct 4, 2018
- The Domes, Yosemite, Albumen print, mounted — $40,000Sign up free to see, Phillips, Oct 3, 2017
- The Passage of the Dalles, Columbia River, Mammoth-plate albumen print — $92,500Sign up free to see, Phillips, Apr 4, 2017
Questions about Carleton Watkins prices
What is a Carleton Watkins photograph worth?
Based on 18 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by Carleton Watkins have sold for a median of $12,484, and half of them sold between $2,583 and $31,250. For photographs alone the median is $7,187 (17 sales). Medium, size, condition, subject and provenance all affect the price of a particular work; these are past auction results, not a valuation.
What is the most expensive work by Carleton Watkins sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $156,250 for “Cape Horn, Columbia River” at Phillips in April 2017.
How often do Carleton Watkins works sell at auction?
67% of the 27 lots recorded between 2003 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a Carleton Watkins photograph?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
Of the 27 lots by Carleton Watkins recorded at auction between 2003 and 2026, 18 found a buyer (67%).
Sell a Carleton Watkins photographAll Carleton Watkins auction resultsPrice chartCarleton Watkins photographsFree auction estimate