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Carleton Watkins, The Town on the Hill, New Almaden

Carleton Watkins

American · 1829–1916 · Photographer

Carleton E. Watkins (1829–1916) was an American photographer of the 19th century. Born in New York, he moved to California and quickly became interested in photography. He… (Wikipedia)

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29lots offered2003–2026years recorded67%sold (18)$12.5kSign up free to seemedian price

Record prices

  1. Carleton Watkins, Cape Horn, Columbia River, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen printCape Horn, Columbia RiverPhillips · $156,250≈ £124,960≈ €146,562Sign up to see
  2. Carleton Watkins, Multnomah Falls Cascade, Columbia River, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen print, mountedMultnomah Falls Cascade, Columbia RiverPhillips · $106,250≈ £85,417≈ €99,756Sign up to see
  3. Carleton Watkins, The Passage of the Dalles, Columbia River, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen printThe Passage of the Dalles, Columbia RiverPhillips · $92,500≈ £74,363≈ €86,846Sign up to see

Carleton Watkins’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).

Lot images as published by each auction house (27 lots with an image). Images from houses that reserve their photographs are shown as small thumbnails linking to the house’s site.

Carleton Watkins, Devil's Gate and the Weber River, Weber Canyon, Utah, 1873, Mammoth-plate albumen print; mounted
Devil's Gate and the Weber River, Weber Canyon, Utah, 1873
Bonhams · Jul 14, 2026
$20,480Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Lower Yosemite Fall, 1865-66, Albumen print
Lower Yosemite Fall, 1865-66
Bonhams · Jul 14, 2026
$2,560Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Buckeye Tree, circa 1870, photography
Buckeye Tree, circa 1870
Hessink's Auctions · Apr 14, 2026
€800Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Sentinel Rock, Echo Canyon, Utah; Witches Rock, Near Echo, Utah, 1870s, Two oval albumen prints, each mounted
Sentinel Rock, Echo Canyon, Utah; Witches Rock, Near Echo, Utah, 1870s
Phillips · Oct 9, 2025
$4,515Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Tocoye, North Dome, 3729 Feet, Yosemite, 1861, Mammoth-plate albumen print
Tocoye, North Dome, 3729 Feet, Yosemite, 1861
Phillips · Oct 11, 2023
$17,780Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Virginia City From Water Flume, 1878, Glass positive
Virginia City From Water Flume, 1878
Phillips · Oct 4, 2018
$25,000Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, The Domes, Yosemite, circa 1865-1866, Albumen print, mounted
The Domes, Yosemite, circa 1865-1866
Phillips · Oct 3, 2017
$40,000Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Multnomah Falls Cascade, Columbia River, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen print, mounted
Multnomah Falls Cascade, Columbia River, 1867
Phillips · Apr 4, 2017
$106,250Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Devils Canyon, Geysers, Looking Up, circa 1868-1870, Mammoth-plate albumen print, mounted
Devils Canyon, Geysers, Looking Up, circa 1868-1870
Phillips · Apr 4, 2017
$32,500Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, The Passage of the Dalles, Columbia River, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen print
The Passage of the Dalles, Columbia River, 1867
Phillips · Apr 4, 2017
$92,500Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Cape Horn, Columbia River, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen print
Cape Horn, Columbia River, 1867
Phillips · Apr 3, 2017
$156,250Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Middle Block House, Oregon, 1867, Albumen print relined with Japanese paper
Middle Block House, Oregon, 1867
Bonhams · Jun 8, 2016
$2,750Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, The Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, from Glacier Point Yosemite, 1878-1881, Mammoth-plate albumen print
The Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, from Glacier Point Yosemite, 1878-1881
Phillips · Apr 4, 2016
$27,500Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Untitled (Views of San Francisco), 1860-1872, 11 stereophotographs: albumen prints. Each
Untitled (Views of San Francisco), 1860-1872
Lempertz · May 30, 2014
€976Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Mount Watkins, fully reflected in Mirror Lake, Yosemite, 1865/66, Albumen print
Mount Watkins, fully reflected in Mirror Lake, Yosemite, 1865/66
Lempertz · Nov 27, 2013
€1,952Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, The Sentinel, Yosemite, 1878-81, Mammoth albumen print on the original mount, unsigned
The Sentinel, Yosemite, 1878-81
Bonhams · Dec 16, 2012
$1,375Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Yowie, the Nevada Fall, 700 Feet, Yosemite, Outstanding and rare Mammoth albumen print shows an early photograph of the Nevada Falls at Yosemite
Yowie, the Nevada Fall, 700 Feet, Yosemite
James D. Julia · Aug 29, 2007
$7,187Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, El Capitian, Photograph shows river winding below large sheer cliff with tall trees below. Metal frame with white matte
El Capitian
James D. Julia · Aug 20, 2003
$460Sign up free to see
Carleton Watkins, Castle Rock, Washington Territory, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen print
Castle Rock, Washington Territory, 1867
Phillips · Apr 5, 2024
Carleton Watkins, Cathedral Rock, Yosemite, 1865-1866, Mammoth-plate albumen print
Cathedral Rock, Yosemite, 1865-1866
Phillips · Apr 5, 2024
Carleton Watkins, Islands in the Columbia, Upper Cascades, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen print
Islands in the Columbia, Upper Cascades, 1867
Phillips · Apr 4, 2023
Carleton Watkins, City of Portland, Willamette River, Oregon, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen print
City of Portland, Willamette River, Oregon, 1867
Phillips · Apr 4, 2023
Carleton Watkins, Willamette Falls, Oregon City, 1867, Mammoth-plate albumen print
Willamette Falls, Oregon City, 1867
Phillips · Apr 4, 2023
Carleton Watkins, View on the Merced, Yosemite, 1861, Mammoth arch-topped albumen print, mounted
View on the Merced, Yosemite, 1861
Bonhams · Jul 20, 2015
Carleton Watkins, View on the Merced, Yosemite, 1861, Mammoth arch-topped albumen print, mounted
View on the Merced, Yosemite, 1861
Bonhams · Jan 26, 2015
Carleton Watkins, Selected Images, circa 1861, Seven albumen print stereographs, each mounted to original card
Selected Images, circa 1861
Phillips · Oct 1, 2014
Carleton Watkins, The Domes from Eagle Point, Pl. B 29, from New Boudoir Series Yo Semite and Pacific Coast, c. 1876, Albumen boudoir card
The Domes from Eagle Point, Pl. B 29, from New Boudoir Series Yo Semite and Pacific Coast, c. 1876
Bonhams · Jul 20, 2014

Works in museum collections

Open-access images (public domain, CC0 or CC BY) from museum collections, each shown with its credit line and licence.

Carleton Watkins, The Town on the Hill, New Almaden
The Town on the Hill, New Almaden1863 · Albumen silver print from glass negative
The Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation …
Carleton Watkins, View on the Columbia, Cascades
View on the Columbia, Cascades1867 · Albumen silver print from glass negative
The Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Warner Communications Inc. Purchase Fund and …
Carleton Watkins, Cape Horn near Celilo
Cape Horn near Celilo1867 · Albumen silver print from glass negative
The Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Purchase, The Horace W. Go…
Carleton Watkins, Ambroise Bernard Album
Ambroise Bernard Album1870s · Albumen silver prints
The Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Carole and Irwin Lainoff, Ruth P. Las…
Carleton Watkins, The Golden Gate
The Golden Gate1868–69, printed ca. 1876 · Albumen silver print from glass negative
The Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Carole and Irwin Lainoff, Ruth P. Las…
Carleton Watkins, Islands in the Upper Cascades, Oregon
Islands in the Upper Cascades, Oregon1867, printed ca. 1876 · Albumen silver print from glass negative
The Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Carole and Irwin Lainoff, Ruth P. Las…
Carleton Watkins, Piwyac, Vernal Fall, 300 feet, Yosemite
Piwyac, Vernal Fall, 300 feet, Yosemite1861 · albumen silver print
National Gallery of Art, Washington ↗
CC0 · National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Mary and David Robinson — Open A…
Carleton Watkins, Cape Horn, Columbia River, Oregon
Cape Horn, Columbia River, Oregon1867 · albumen silver print
National Gallery of Art, Washington ↗
CC0 · National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons' Permanent Fund — Open Access (CC0)
Carleton Watkins, Sugar Loaf Island, Farallons
Sugar Loaf Island, Farallons1868/1869 · albumen silver print
National Gallery of Art, Washington ↗
CC0 · National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons' Permanent Fund — Open Access (CC0)
Carleton Watkins, Malakoff Diggins, North Bloomfield, Nevada County
Malakoff Diggins, North Bloomfield, Nevada County1871 · albumen silver print
National Gallery of Art, Washington ↗
CC0 · National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons' Permanent Fund — Open Access (CC0)
Carleton Watkins, Grizzly Giant, Mariposa Grove
Grizzly Giant, Mariposa Grove1861 · albumen silver print
National Gallery of Art, Washington ↗
CC0 · National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Mary and David Robinson — Open A…
Carleton Watkins, Cape Horn, Columbia River
Cape Horn, Columbia River1867 · albumen silver print
National Gallery of Art, Washington ↗
CC0 · National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Mary and David Robinson — Open A…
Carleton Watkins, Late George Cling Peaches
Late George Cling Peaches1889
Museum of Modern Art ↗
Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons (public domain) — Museum of Modern Art
Carleton Watkins, The Mother of the Forest
The Mother of the Forest1873
Carleton Watkins Photographic Album ↗
Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons (public domain) — Carleton Watkins Photographic Album
Carleton Watkins, View on the Columbia, Cascades
View on the Columbia, Cascades1867
Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · Carleton Watkins, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0) — Metropolitan Museum of Art
Carleton Watkins, The Town on the Hill, New Almaden
The Town on the Hill, New Almaden1863
Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · Carleton Watkins, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0) — Metropolitan Museum of Art
Carleton Watkins, Cape Horn near Celilo
Cape Horn near Celilo1867
Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · Carleton Watkins, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0) — Metropolitan Museum of Art
Carleton Watkins, Bridal Veil, Yosemite
Bridal Veil, Yosemite
Cleveland Museum of Art ↗
CC0 · Carleton E. Watkins, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0) — Cleveland Museum of Art
Carleton Watkins, The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles, Oregon1867
Museum of Modern Art ↗
Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons (public domain) — Museum of Modern Art
Carleton Watkins, El Capitan (3600 Feet) from the Foot of the Mariposa Trail
El Capitan (3600 Feet) from the Foot of the Mariposa Trail1867
Museum of Modern Art ↗
Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons (public domain) — Museum of Modern Art
Carleton Watkins, Big River, from the Rancherie, Mendocino, California
Big River, from the Rancherie, Mendocino, California1863 · Albumen print
Art Institute of Chicago ↗
CC0 · Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of the Auxiliary Board — public domain (CC0)
Carleton Watkins, First View of the Yosemite Valley from the Mariposa Trail
First View of the Yosemite Valley from the Mariposa Trail1865/66 · Albumen print
Art Institute of Chicago ↗
CC0 · Art Institute of Chicago, Laura T. Magnuson and Maurice D. Galleher Endowment…
Carleton Watkins, Mirror View, Yosemite Valley, Mariposa County, Cal.
Mirror View, Yosemite Valley, Mariposa County, Cal.1861/76 · Albumen print, stereo
Art Institute of Chicago ↗
CC0 · Art Institute of Chicago, Purchased with funds provided by the Kunstadter Fam…
Carleton Watkins, Copy of Carleton Watkins' "Galen Clark Before the Grizzly Giant,"
Copy of Carleton Watkins' "Galen Clark Before the Grizzly Giant,"c. 1863 · Print on paper from woodcut engraving
Art Institute of Chicago ↗
CC0 · Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Hugh Edwards — public domain (CC0)

Related artists — American, born 1804–1854