American, 1868–1952
Edward S. Curtis
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
Where does a value land in this market?
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
| Medium | Results | Sell-through | Median 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
| Metric | Edward S. Curtis | Ansel Adams |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $4,845 | $11,875 |
| Record price | $1,416,000 | $988,000 |
| Results on record | 839 | 2,991 |
| 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
| House | Results | Sell-through | Median | vs. 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
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $39, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2010·04 | The Vanishing Race, 1904 | gelatin silver print | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2010·04 | 'the north american indian,' volume 10 | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2010·04 | The Apache Reaper | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2010·04 | a zuñi governor | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2009·12 | An Oasis in the Badlands, 1905 | platinum print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2009·12 | Zuni Governor, 1905 | platinum print | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2009·12 | Shot in the Hand- Apsaroke; Planning a Raid; and Winter- Apsaroke, 1907-1908 | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2009·12 | At the Old Well of Acoma, 1904 | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2009·03 | Vash Gon, Jicarilla, 1904 | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2008·04 | Cañon del Muerto, Navajo, c. 1900 | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2008·04 | The Vanishing Race, 1904 | gelatin silver print | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·04 | Nature's Mirror, Navajo, 1904 | gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·04 | The Potter, 1900 | platinum print | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·04 | A Hilltop Camp- Jicarilla, 1904 | gelatin silver border print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2008·04 | President Roosevelt, 1910 | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2008·04 | Signal Fire to the Mountain God, 1909 | $9,000–$12,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2008·04 | Chief Joseph, Nez Percé, Idaho | $50,000–$80,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·04 | Three Chiefs, Piegan | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2008·02 | Cañon de Chelley, 1904 | gelatin silver print | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·11 | The North American Indian, Portfolio 20, 1899-1910 | $6,742–$9,438 | Christie's | |||
| 2007·11 | A Hopi Mother, 1900 | $2,697–$4,045 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·10 | Vash Gon, Jicarilla, 1904 | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2007·10 | The Three Chiefs, Blackfoot, Montana, 1900 | platinum print | $40,000–$60,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2007·10 | Prayer to the Stars, 1909 | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2007·10 | 'haschezhini--navaho' | $12,000–$18,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2007·09 | Bow River- Blackfoot, 1926 | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2007·05 | slow bull, of the oglala, 1907, and medicine crow of the apsaroke, 1908 | $4,045–$6,742 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·10 | Maid of Dreams, c. 1909 | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2006·10 | Cañon de Chelly, 1904 | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2006·10 | selected images of north american indians | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·09 | Selected images from North American Indian , 1907-1930 | $300–$500 | Christie's | |||
| 2006·09 | Watching the Dancer, 1906 and A Tewa Girl, 1921 | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2006·09 | Canyon de Chelly, 1904 | gelatin silver border print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·05 | The Sun Dancer, 1907 | $1,500–$2,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2006·05 | White River - Apache | $500–$700 | Unsold listing | Christie's | ||
| 2006·05 | Atsina Camp (plate 175) | Vintage photogravure print on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2006·05 | Bringing the Sweat-Lodge Willows-Piegan (plate 205) | Vintage photogravure... | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2006·05 | Crossing the Lake Kutenai (plate 252) | Vintage photogravure print on pape... | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2006·05 | Kalispel Scene (plate 240) | Vintage photogravure print on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2006·05 | The North American Indian, Large Plates (Group of 36, plus the title page, and the... | — | Heritage Auctions | |||
| 2006·04 | 'The North American Indian,' Volume 1 | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' portfolio 1 | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'The North American Indian', Portfolio 2 | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' volume 8 | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' portfolio 9 | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' volume 6 | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' volume 4 | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' portfolio 8 | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' volume 9 | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' volume 5 | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' portfolio 4 | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' portfolio 6 | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'The North American Indian,' Volume 2 | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' portfolio 3 | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' portfolio 5 | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' volume 7 | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·04 | 'the north american indian,' volume 3 | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2006·02 | Sioux Warrior, 1904 | platinum print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Selected images from North American Indian , 1927 | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2006·02 | Among the Rocks at Acoma, c. 1904 | platinum print | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Hopi Snake Priest, c. 1903 | platinum print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Fish Weir Across Trinity River, c. 1923 | gelatin silver print | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Hoopa Fisherman, c. 1904 | gelatin silver print | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Hopi Water Carriers, 1904-1921 | gelatin silver print | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Homeward, Puget Sound, 1898 | gelatin silver print | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | The Vanishing Race, Navaho, 1904 | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2006·02 | Vash Gon, Jicarilla, 1904 | platinum print | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Nootka Woman, c. 1916 | platinum print | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Tapa, 1905 | platinum print | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | The Vanishing Race, Navaho, 1904 | platinum print | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Portrait of a young Hopi woman, 1903 | platinum print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | The Piki Maker, 1906 | platinum print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | The Vanishing Race, Navaho, 1904 | gelatin silver print | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Selected plates from North American Indian , 1907-1930 | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2006·02 | The Wood Gatherer, Apsaroke, 1908 | gelatin silver print | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | The Fisherman, Wisham, 1909 | gelatin silver print | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | The Rush Gatherer, 1907 | gelatin silver print | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2006·02 | Canyon de Chelly, 1904 | platinum print | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·11 | Before the Storm, Apache, 1906 | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·11 | The Vanishing Race, 1904 | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·11 | Hidatsa Woman, 1908; Wife of Wakónda-Oto, 1927; A San Juan Matron, 1905; and A Southern Miwok Woman, 1924 | $800–$1,200 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·11 | Tuvahe-Jemez, 1925; A Southern Miwok Youth, 1924; First Walker-Ponca, 1927; and A Comanche, 1927 | $1,000–$1,500 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·11 | The Whip-Ponca, 1927; John Quapaw (Húnta Wakúnta)-Quapaw, 1927; and Hupa Jumping Dance Costume | $1,000–$1,500 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·11 | Modern Cupeño House; Osage Summer Arbor, 1927; Modern Yuki Cabin; and Brush Lodge-Cheyenne | $800–$1,200 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·10 | A Walpi Man, 1921 | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·10 | The North American Indian , Portfolios 1-20; and Volumes 1-20 | $400,000–$600,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·10 | Selected images from The North American Indian , 1907-1925 | $18,000–$22,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·10 | Qahátika Girl, 1907 | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·10 | Geronimo | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·10 | 'the oath, apsaroke' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2005·06 | The Clam Digger, 1900 | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·06 | Vanishing Race, 1904 | platinum print | $12,000–$18,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·05 | Out of the Darkness - Navajo | Plate 37 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2005·05 | Old Trail at Acoma | Plate 567 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2005·05 | U'Wat - Comanche | Plate 684 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2005·05 | A Taos Woman (plate 548) | Vintage photogravure print on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2005·04 | Vanishing Race, Navaho, 1904 | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·04 | The North American Indian , Portfolio 2 (1903-1907) | $15,000–$20,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·04 | The Rush Gatherer, Kutenai, c. 1906 | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·04 | The Old Well of Acoma, c. 1904 | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $39, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.