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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $39, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2005·02 | Selected plates from The North American Indian , 1923-1927 | $1,800–$2,200 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·02 | Vanishing Race, Navaho, 1904 | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·02 | The Oath, Apsaroke, 1908 | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·02 | Nez Percé Warrior, 1905; Untitled (Warrior), c. 1905 | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·02 | The Fisherman, Wishham, 1904 | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·02 | Nootka spearing fish, 1915 | silver toned platinum print | $1,000–$1,500 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·02 | An Oasis in the Badlands, Sioux (Chief Red Hawk), 1905 | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·02 | Selected plates from The North American Indian , 1907-1927 | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·02 | Shot in the Hand; and Autumn, Apsaroke, 1908 | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·02 | Renegade Type - Apache, 1903 | platinum print | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·02 | Zuni Governor, 1905 | silver coated platinum print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2005·02 | Qahátîka Water Girl, 1907 | $1,200–$1,800 | Christie's | |||
| 2005·02 | The Rush Gather, Kutenai, 1904 | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·11 | A Desert Cahuilla Woman, 1924 | $674–$944 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·11 | The Hopi Maiden, 1905 | $944–$1,214 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·11 | Klickitat Basketry, 1909; Zuni Pottery, 1925 | $674–$944 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·11 | The Scout in Winter - Apsaroke, 1908 | $1,348–$2,022 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·11 | Spotted Bull - Mandan, 1908 | $1,079–$1,618 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·11 | Chief Garfield - Jicarilla, 1904 | $2,022–$2,697 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·11 | A Stormy Day - Flathead, 1910 | $1,348–$2,022 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·11 | The Piki Maker, 1906 | $674–$944 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·10 | Signal Fire to the Mountain Gods, 1909 | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·10 | Cann de Chelly, 1904 | $12,000–$18,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·10 | The Rush Gather, Kutenai, 1904 | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·10 | Vanishing Race, Navaho, 1904 | toned gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | Chief Garfield, 1904 | platinum print | $15,000–$20,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·10 | At the Old Well at Acoma, 1904 | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·10 | Homeward, 1898 | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·10 | Vanishing Race, Navaho, 1904 | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·10 | The Tree Chiefs, Piegan, 1900 | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'the vanishing race-navaho' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | Selected Large-Format Photogravures | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'the vanishing race-navaho' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'maid of dreams' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·04 | 'the fisherman - wishham' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2004·02 | The Piki Maker, Hopi, 1906 | $2,500–$3,500 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·02 | Selected images from The North American Indian , 1903-1927 | $900–$1,200 | Christie's | |||
| 2004·02 | The Vanishing Race, Navajo, 1904; and Evening on the Sound - Homeward, 1898 | 2 gelatin silver prints | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·02 | Sunset Trail, circa 1900 | blue toned gelatin silver print | $1,500–$2,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2004·02 | Prayer to the Stars, 1909 | $3,500–$4,500 | Christie's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'a hopi man' | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'the vanishing race' | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·10 | 'maid of dreams' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2003·06 | Cañon del Muerto, 1904 | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2003·03 | A Holiday Lodge-Yakima, 1910; Ruins on the Mesa at Puye; Paguate; Spokan Camp; and A Camp of the Yakima | $1,000–$1,500 | Christie's | |||
| 2003·03 | Atsina Fly Dance-"Robes Outstretched", 1908; Oraibi Snake Dance, 1921; T'saiyats!a-Cochiti, 1925; and Francisca Chiwiwi-Isleta, 1925 | $1,000–$1,500 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | The Vanishing Race, Navaho | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | Watching the Dancers | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | Native American Portrait | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | Zuni Bringing in Wood | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | Evening in Hopi Land | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | The Basket Maker, Skokomish | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | The Vanishing Race, Navaho | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | The Scout, Apache | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | Canon del Muerto, Navajo | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | The Piki Maker, Hopi | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | Maid of Dreams | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | Spirit of the Past, Apsaroke | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·10 | Mósa - Mojave | $12,000–$18,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·05 | White Man Runs Him - Apsaroke; Plenty Coups - Apsaroke | $2,697–$5,393 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·05 | Two Leggings - Apsaroke; Upshaw - Apsaroke; Wet - Apsaroke | $2,697–$5,393 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·05 | Apache Nalin; Chideh - Apache; Renegade type - Apache | $2,697–$4,045 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·04 | The Rush Gatherer, Kutenai, 1910 | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·04 | Untitled, 1904 | gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Chief Joseph, Nez Percé, 1903 | $9,000–$12,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·04 | Selected images, 1908-1915 | $8,000–$12,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·04 | Spirit of the Past, Apsaroke, 1903 | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·04 | The Vanishing Race, 1904 | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·04 | A Son of the Desert, c. 1904 | gelatin silver print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | Chief of the Desert, 1904 | gelatin silver border print | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | A Walpi Man, 1903 | gelatin silver print | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2002·04 | 'the vanishing race-navaho' | $7,000–$10,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2002·03 | In The Gray Morning - San Ildefonso | $800–$1,200 | Christie's | |||
| 2002·03 | Tsetsanu-Tewa; Wife of Wakonda-Oto; Spokan Woman; and Woista - Cheyenne Woman | $1,500–$2,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·12 | Homeward | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·12 | Signal Fire to the Mountain Gods | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·12 | Women of the Desert, Navajo | $18,000–$22,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·12 | Crater Lake, Kalamath | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·12 | The Vanishing Race, Navaho | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·12 | At the Old Well at Acoma | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·11 | Oasis in the Badlands | $3,000–$4,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·10 | Mósa - Mohave | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·10 | The Vanishing Race, Navaho | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·04 | Out of the Darkness | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·04 | The Vanishing Race, Navaho | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·04 | The Scout, Apache | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·04 | Crater Lake | $6,000–$8,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·04 | Canyon del Muerto | $8,000–$10,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2001·03 | Inscription Rock; and Ruins on the Mesa at Puye, 1925 | $800–$1,200 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·10 | Portrait of a young girl | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·10 | The Fisherman, Wisham | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·10 | Embarking - Kutenai | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·10 | The Medicine Man | $7,000–$9,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·10 | Oasis in the Badlands (Red Hawk, Ogallalla, Sioux) | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·05 | The Vanishing Race, Navahos, 1904 | $1,079–$1,618 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·04 | Chief of the Desert | $15,000–$20,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·04 | At the Old Well at Acoma | $12,000–$18,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·04 | Embarking - Kutenai | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·04 | Women of the Desert, Navaho | $5,000–$7,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2000·04 | The Vanishing Race, Navaho | $4,000–$6,000 | Christie's | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $39, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.