LIVE LOTS 17,750,525 HOUSES 866 UNSOLD RECORDED 4,679,484 UPDATED NIGHTLY
TheBasis.Art

American, 1868–1952

Edward S. Curtis

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839results on record
79%sell-through
$4,845median result (USD, incl. premium; 93% observed, 7% estimated from hammer)
$1,416,000record in our coverage

Drawn from 839 recorded results (723 sold · 116 passed) across 14 auction houses, 1998–2026. 46 upcoming lots on the ledger. What we cover

Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 93% observed, 7% estimated from hammer method · log scale

$9.3K$19K$28K1998: $17K median, 34 sold1999: $8.2K median, 46 sold2000: $6.5K median, 17 sold2001: $7.0K median, 15 sold2002: $5.9K median, 28 sold2003: $6.7K median, 6 sold2004: $3.2K median, 27 sold2005: $3.6K median, 35 sold2006: $9.0K median, 47 sold2007: $11K median, 8 sold2008: $9.4K median, 10 sold2009: $6.9K median, 5 sold2010: $7.2K median, 20 sold2011: $34K median, 3 sold2012: $5.2K median, 12 sold2013: $5.6K median, 13 sold2014: $7.8K median, 14 sold2015: $3.9K median, 10 sold2016: $5.0K median, 3 sold2017: $6.4K median, 6 sold2018: $672 median, 2 sold2019: $8.2K median, 8 sold2020: $4.0K median, 12 sold2021: $8.3K median, 119 sold2022: $5.1K median, 25 sold2023: $862 median, 74 sold2024: $538 median, 31 sold2025: $826 median, 27 sold2026: $512 median, 66 sold19982005201220192026

Where does a value land in this market?

$

The same figure also answers the seller's question: which house clears a work like this, and for how much — expected proceeds by house, from the sell-through the rest of this page is built on.

$4.8K$64$1.4M

Every sold result for this market, low to high (log scale) — the dashed line is the median. Enter a value to see where it lands.

By medium where medium is recorded or stated in the catalog line

MediumResultsSell-throughMedian result (USD)
photography 123 80% $4,800
prints 108 85% $684
other 76 100% $18,522
ceramics & design 6 100% $1,463

Medium is recorded for 313 of 839 results (37%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.

Compared with Ansel Adams Edward S. Curtis Ansel Adams

$9.3K$19K$28K1998: $12K median1999: $9.1K median2000: $12K median2001: $15K median2002: $16K median2003: $9.0K median2004: $13K median2005: $20K median2006: $23K median2007: $30K median2008: $25K median2009: $21K median2010: $14K median2011: $16K median2012: $11K median2013: $18K median2014: $17K median2015: $8.1K median2016: $13K median2017: $19K median2018: $12K median2019: $7.5K median2020: $14K median2021: $3.6K median2022: $11K median2023: $3.6K median2024: $13K median2025: $3.8K median2026: $2.3K median1998: $17K median1999: $8.2K median2000: $6.5K median2001: $7.0K median2002: $5.9K median2003: $6.7K median2004: $3.2K median2005: $3.6K median2006: $9.0K median2007: $11K median2008: $9.4K median2009: $6.9K median2010: $7.2K median2011: $34K median2012: $5.2K median2013: $5.6K median2014: $7.8K median2015: $3.9K median2016: $5.0K median2017: $6.4K median2018: $672 median2019: $8.2K median2020: $4.0K median2021: $8.3K median2022: $5.1K median2023: $862 median2024: $538 median2025: $826 median2026: $512 median19982005201220192026
MetricEdward S. CurtisAnsel Adams
Median result$4,845$11,875
Record price $1,416,000 $988,000
Results on record8392,991
Years active at auction 1998–2026 1998–2026

Related artists: Ansel AdamsBerenice AbbottEdward WestonHenri Cartier-bresson

Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method

72/ 100
  • Sell-through79%
  • Meets estimate52%
  • Market depth839 results

How readily and near-estimate this market clears — sell-through, estimate reliability, and depth, blended into one score. "Meets estimate" is the share of sold lots hammering at or above the low estimate, over catalogs that print a real appraisal: a house whose printed low is a starting bid would meet its estimate on every lot, so those lots are excluded from this term only — their prices and outcomes still count in the other two. Method →

Where this artist sells best

HouseResultsSell-throughMedianvs. estimate
Bonhams 395 76% $3,520 0.86×
Christie's 241 — $6,394 —
Sotheby's 97 95% $8,750 0.70×
Freeman's | Hindman 52 92% $384 0.43×
Heritage Auctions 26 77% $1,125 —
Rago 15 93% $826 —
Wright 4 50% $456 —
Phillips 1 100% $882 —
Artcurial 1 — $6,183 0.78×
Chiswick Auctions 2 50% $320 —
Shelby's Auctioneers Ltd. 1 100% $143 3.40×
Locati LLC 1 100% $469 0.62×
Lempertz 1 0% — —
Arader Galleries 3 0% — —

The same artist across every house we cover — hammer-vs-estimate side by side. A dash in the estimate column can mean withheld rather than unpublished: the house publishes no hammer price, or its printed low is a starting bid rather than an appraisal. Method →

Prices realized 886 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 116 passed lots

DateLotMediumvs. estimateEstimate USDResult USD, incl. premiumHouse
100 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass
2026·04 The Vanishing Race orotone $3,000–$4,000 Freeman's | Hindman
2026·04 Geronimo - Apache, Plate 2 photogravure, Japon Vellum $2,000–$3,000 Freeman's | Hindman
2026·04 A Chief of the Desert - Navaho, Plate 26 photogravure $1,000–$1,500 Freeman's | Hindman
2026·04 Photogravures Documenting the Cheyenne $1,500–$2,500 Freeman's | Hindman
2026·04 Canon de Chelly. - Navaho, Plate 28 photogravure $1,500–$2,500 Freeman's | Hindman
2026·04 Photogravures Documenting Native Subjects and Activities in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Northwest Coast $800–$1,200 Freeman's | Hindman
2026·03 The Scout in Winter - Apsaroke (from Portfolio IV of 'The North American Indian') $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2026·03 Cañon de Chelly - Navaho $6,000–$8,000 Bonhams
2026·03 The Scout - Apache $4,000–$6,000 Bonhams
2026·03 The Rush Gatherer - Kutenai $8,000–$12,000 Bonhams
2026·03 The Storm - Apache $4,000–$6,000 Bonhams
2026·03 An Oasis in the Badlands $10,000–$15,000 Bonhams
2026·03 A Grizzly Bear Brave-Piegan, 1910 — Chiswick Auctions
2026·02 New Chest – Piegan and The Rush Gatherer – Kutenai, (Unsigned) $27–$40 Shelby's Auctioneers Ltd.
2026·02 Sunset Trail $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2026·01 Coups Well-Known - Apsaroke $800–$1,000 Bonhams
2026·01 Lucero - Santo Domingo $400–$600 Bonhams
2026·01 A Yaudanchi Yokuts Woman $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2026·01 Shatíla – Pomo $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2026·01 Achomawi Basket-Maker $800–$1,000 Bonhams
2026·01 Mitat – Wailaki $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2026·01 The Sacred Turtles – Mandan $400–$600 Bonhams
2026·01 Smelt Fisher - Trinidad Yurok $800–$1,000 Bonhams
2025·11 Four works from The North American Indian portfolio $300–$500 Rago
2025·11 The Lower Columbia (from The North American Indian portfolio) $400–$600 Rago
2025·11 Four works from The North American Indian portfolio $400–$600 Rago
2025·11 Hoop on the Forehead - Apsaroke, 1908 $500–$700 Locati LLC
2025·10 Canyon de Chelly, Navajo $7,000–$10,000 Bonhams
2025·10 The Vanishing Race, Navajo $6,000–$9,000 Bonhams
2025·09 Homeward $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·09 Wichita Grass-House $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·09 Henry-Wichita $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·09 Otíla- Maidu $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2025·09 A Diegueño Woman of Campo $800–$1,000 Bonhams
2025·09 Achomawi Man $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·09 Moss for the Baby-Bags - Cree $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·09 Loitering at the Spring $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·09 Pomo Baskets, Mortar, and Pestle $600–$800 Bonhams
2025·09 A Yuma Type $600–$800 Bonhams
2025·09 Spearing Salmon $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·07 The Fisherman - Wishham $5,000–$7,000 Bonhams
2025·06 Collection of seventeen works $1,000–$1,500 Rago
2025·06 At the Pool, Animal Dance - Cheyenne, Pl 663 $300–$500 Rago
2025·06 Collection of seventeen works $1,000–$1,500 Rago
2025·06 Group of Winter Dancers - Qágyuhl (Plate 348 from The North American Indian, Portfolio 10) $800–$1,200 Rago
2025·06 Woman Shaman Looking for Clairvoyant Visions - Clayoquot $500–$700 Rago
2025·06 West Coast (Nude Ceremonial Costume) $700–$900 Rago
2025·06 Dancing - Cheyenne $800–$1,200 Rago
2025·04 Spirit of the Past, Apsaroke, 1908 size of image 13 3/4 x 10 3/4, size of frame 19 x 16 in. $7,000–$10,000 Bonhams
2025·03 Watching for Salmon - Hupa $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2025·03 The Scout - Apache $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2025·03 Depositing a Prayer Stick $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2025·01 Spearing Salmon $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·01 The Potter Mixing Clay $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·01 Masked Dancers in Canoes - Qágyuhl (b) $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·01 Pima Matron $500–$700 Bonhams
2025·01 The Three Chiefs, Piegan $6,000–$8,000 Bonhams
2025·01 Moss for the Baby-Bags - Cree $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 The Three Cheifs - Piegan $20,000–$30,000 Sotheby's
2024·10 Assiniboin Mother and Child 11 5/8 x 15 3/4 in. Frame size 25 1/2 x 30 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 A Point of Interest - Navajo 10 1/2 x 14 1/2 in.Frame size 22 x 26 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 Little Sioux - Arikara 15 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.Frame size 26 x 22 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 The Fruit Gatherer - San Ildefonso 15 1/2 x 11 1/2 in.Frame size 26 x 22 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 Snake Dancers Entertaining the Plaza 11 1/2 x 15 1/2 in.Frame size 22 x 26 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 Walpi Architecture 11 1/2 x 15 1/2 in. Frame size 22 x 26 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 Little Hawk 15 1/2 x 7 3/4 in. Frame size 26 x 22 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 Apache-Land 15 1/2 x 11 3/4 in. Frame size 26 x 22 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 The Apache 15 1/2 x 11 1/2 in.Frame size 26 x 22 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 On the Housetop and Mishongnovi 11 1/2 x 15 1/2 in. Sheet 18 x 22 1/8 in. 15 1/8 x 11 1/2 in. Sheet 22 1/8 x 18 in. $300–$400 Bonhams
2024·10 Hamasaka in Tlu'wulahu costume with speaker's staff and Qagyuhl village at Fort Rupert 15 1/2 x 10 1/4 in. Sheet 22 5/16 x 17 7/8 in. 15 1/4 x 10 5/8 in. Sheet 21 7/8 x 17 5/8 in. $200–$300 Bonhams
2024·10 The Fire Makers - White Mountain Apaches Photo size 6 x 8 in.Frame size 16 x 18 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·10 A Hesquiat Maiden 15 1/4 x 11 1/2 in. Frame size 29 3/4 x 25 1/4 in. $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·09 Canyon de Chelly $5,000–$7,000 Bonhams
2024·09 The Vanishing Race, Navajo $5,000–$7,000 Bonhams
2024·09 Atsina Warriors $300–$400 Bonhams
2024·09 Cowichan River $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·09 Crater Lake $600–$800 Bonhams
2024·07 The Vanishing Race, Navajo $4,000–$6,000 Bonhams
2024·05 Carlos Rios-Papago Chief $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·05 Platinum, Volume 1 10 $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2024·05 War-Party's Farewell-Atsina $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·05 Bear's Belly-Arikara $500–$700 Bonhams
2024·04 Selected Images $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2024·01 The Kiva Stairs, San Ildefonso $600–$800 Bonhams
2024·01 Pakít, Maricopa $600–$800 Bonhams
2024·01 The Yuma $800–$1,000 Bonhams
2024·01 The Three Chiefs - Piegan $40,000–$60,000 Sotheby's
2024·01 An Oasis in the Badlands $5,000–$7,000 Sotheby's
2024·01 The Vanishing Race $12,000–$18,000 Sotheby's
2024·01 The Oath - Apsaroke $6,000–$9,000 Sotheby's
2024·01 The Spirit of the Past, Apsaroke $5,000–$7,000 Sotheby's
2023·12 A Walpi Man $10,000–$15,000 Sotheby's
2023·12 A Son of the Desert $5,000–$7,000 Sotheby's
2023·12 Chief of the Desert $5,000–$7,000 Sotheby's
2023·12 Mosa - Mohave (from Portfolio II of 'The North American Indian') $5,000–$7,000 Bonhams
2023·12 Selected Images $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2023·12 The Vanishing Race $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2023·11 Bow River-Blackfoot $800–$1,000 Bonhams
2023·11 Sacred Bags of the Horn Society - Blood $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2023·11 Fleshing a Hide - Blackfoot $800–$1,200 Bonhams

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