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

1902–1968

Steinbeck, John. 1902-1968.

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268results on record
75%sell-through
$1,768median result (USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer)
$45,246record in our coverage

Drawn from 268 recorded results (207 sold · 61 passed) across 2 auction houses, 2009–2026. What we cover

Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer method · log scale

$1.4K$2.7K$4.0K2012: $1.4K median, 51 sold2013: $781 median, 14 sold2014: $2.1K median, 11 sold2015: $5.0K median, 11 sold2016: $2.2K median, 29 sold2017: $739 median, 16 sold2018: $2.8K median, 13 sold2019: $2.4K median, 23 sold2020: $3.6K median, 1 sold2021: $408 median, 1 sold2022: $2.1K median, 18 sold2023: $1.5K median, 12 sold2024: $461 median, 3 sold2025: $1.2K median, 1 sold2026: $2.8K median, 2 sold201220152018202120242026

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.

$1.8K$88$45K

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)
other 229 74% $1,750

Medium is recorded for 229 of 268 results (85%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.

Compared with Hemingway, Ernest. 1899-1961. Steinbeck, John. 1902-1968. Hemingway, Ernest. 1899-1961.

$5.1K$10K$15K1999: $3.0K median2001: $940 median2012: $2.8K median2013: $1.4K median2014: $3.7K median2015: $3.9K median2016: $1.8K median2017: $4.8K median2018: $4.7K median2019: $5.1K median2020: $19K median2021: $4.1K median2022: $1.9K median2023: $2.2K median2024: $5.0K median2025: $2.2K median2026: $1.5K median2012: $1.4K median2013: $781 median2014: $2.1K median2015: $5.0K median2016: $2.2K median2017: $739 median2018: $2.8K median2019: $2.4K median2020: $3.6K median2021: $408 median2022: $2.1K median2023: $1.5K median2024: $461 median2025: $1.2K median2026: $2.8K median19992005201120172023
MetricSteinbeck, John. 1902-1968.Hemingway, Ernest. 1899-1961.
Median result$1,768$2,778
Record price $45,246 $83,050
Results on record268203
Years active at auction 2009–2026 1999–2026

Related artists: Hemingway, Ernest. 1899-1961.Faulkner, William. 1897-1962.Joyce, James. 1882-1941.Dickens, Charles. 1812-1870.

Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method

69/ 100
  • Sell-through75%
  • Meets estimate47%
  • Market depth268 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 239 75% $1,750 0.75×
Sotheby's 29 83% $1,974 0.78×

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 268 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 61 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
2017·03 The Pastures of Heaven. New Tork: Brewer, Warren & Putnam, 1932. $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Of Mice and Men. New York: Covici-Friede, [1937]. $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Of Mice and Men. New York: Covici-Friede, 1937. $1,000–$2,000 Bonhams
2016·12 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking Press, 1939. $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Sea of Cortez. New York: The Viking Press, 1941. $2,500–$3,500 Bonhams
2016·12 The Moon is Down: Play in Two Parts. New York: The Viking Press, 1942. $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2016·12 Bombs Away: The Story of a Bomber Team. New York: The Viking Press, 1942. $1,500–$2,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Cannery Row. New York: The Viking Press, 1945. $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2016·12 The Wayward Bus. New York: The Viking Press, 1947. $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2016·12 Burning Bright. New York: The Viking Press, 1950. $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2016·12 East of Eden. New York: The Viking Press, 1952. $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2016·12 East of Eden. New York: The Viking Press, 1952. $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2016·12 The Short Reign of Pippin IV. New York: The Viking Press, 1957. $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2016·12 In Dubious Battle. New York: Covici-Friede, 1936. $7,000–$9,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Autograph Manuscript entitled "Ten Rounds to a Decision - Burial at Sea," 12 pp, folio, n.p., n.d., $15,000–$20,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Saint Katy the Virgin. New York: Covici-Friede, 1936. $1,500–$2,000 Bonhams
2016·12 The Red Pony. New York: Covici-Friede, 1937. $1,500–$2,500 Bonhams
2016·12 In Dubious Battle. New York: Covici-Friede, [1936]. $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2016·12 In Dubious Battle. New York: Covici-Friede, 1936. $4,000–$6,000 Bonhams
2016·12 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking Press, 1939. $12,000–$18,000 Bonhams
2016·12 The Forgotten Village. New York: Viking Press, 1941. $1,200–$1,800 Bonhams
2016·12 The Moon is Down. New York: The Viking Press, 1942. $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2016·12 The Red Pony. New York: The Viking Press, 1945. $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2016·12 The Red Pony. New York: The Viking Press, 1945. $1,500–$2,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Speech Accepting the Nobel Prize for Literature. New York: Viking Press, 1962. $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Cup of Gold. New York: Robert M. McBride & Company, 1929. $15,000–$20,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Pastures of Heaven. New York: Robert O. Ballou, 1932. $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2016·12 To a God Unknown. New York: Robert O. Ballou, [1933]. $5,000–$7,000 Bonhams
2016·12 Tortilla Flat. New York: Covici-Friede, [1935]. $3,000–$4,000 Bonhams
2016·10 saint katy the virgin. new york: covici-friede, 1936 $2,452–$3,678 Sotheby's
2016·09 1. Welcome Reveille Chapter, No. 47. N.p.: April 15, 1909. $500–$700 Bonhams
2016·09 JOHNSON, NUNNALLY. Mimeographed Manuscript, 183 pp, 4to, [Los Angeles], 1940, $500–$700 Bonhams
2016·09 In Dubious Battle. London: William Heinemann, [1936]. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2016·09 BUTLER, FRANK. Mimeographed Manuscript, 119 pp, 4to, [Los Angeles], June 5, 1944, being a shooting copy of A Medal for Benny, $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2016·09 America and The Americans. New York: The Viking Press, 1966. $500–$700 Bonhams
2016·07 a collection of mostly first and first english editions, 1929-1958, comprising: $1,974–$2,632 Sotheby's
2016·02 Autograph Manuscript of the unpublished short story "If This Be Treason", $10,000–$15,000 Bonhams
2016·02 To a God Unknown. New York: Robert O. Ballou, [1933]. $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2016·02 Tortilla Flat. New York: Covici Friede, [1935]. $5,000–$8,000 Bonhams
2016·02 Sea of Cortez. A Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research. New York: The Viking Press, 1941. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2016·02 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking Press, [1939]. $6,000–$9,000 Bonhams
2016·02 The Pastures of Heaven. New York: Brewer, Warren & Putnam, 1932. $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2016·02 Autograph Manuscript of an unpublished short story "π√" [Pi Root], 34 pp, legal folio, n.p, [1956], $35,000–$45,000 Bonhams
2016·02 The Moon is Down. New York: The Viking Press, 1942. $1,500–$2,500 Bonhams
2016·02 Of Mice and Men. New York: Covici Friede, [1937]. $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2016·02 Burning Bright. New York: The Viking Press, 1950. $700–$1,000 Bonhams
2015·12 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking Press, [1939]. $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2015·11 the grapes of wrath. new york: the viking press, 1939 $37,705–$45,246 Sotheby's
2015·11 the grapes of wrath. new york: the viking press, 1939 $37,705–$45,246 Sotheby's
2015·11 tortilla flat...illustrated by ruth gannett. new york: covici friede, 1935 $9,049–$13,574 Sotheby's
2015·09 To a God Unknown. New York: Robert O. Ballou, [1933]. $1,500–$2,000 Bonhams
2015·09 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking Press, [1939]. $1,500–$2,000 Bonhams
2015·09 Of Mice and Men. New York: Covici-Friede, [1937]. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2015·09 Tortilla Flat. New York: Covici-Friede, [1935]. $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2015·06 Small archive of manuscript material from Steinbeck's time in Russia, late 1963, including substantial notes for a play. $4,000–$6,000 Bonhams
2015·04 Nothing so Monstrous. [New York: The Pynson Printers], 1936. $700–$900 Bonhams
2015·04 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: The Viking Press, 1939. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2015·04 Sweet Thursday. New York: Viking Press, 1954. $700–$900 Bonhams
2015·03 Burning Bright. A Play in Story Form. New York: Viking Press, 1950. $600–$800 Bonhams
2014·12 Of Mice and Men: A Play In Three Acts. New York: Covici-Friede Publishers, 1937. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2014·12 The Grapes Of Wrath. New York: The Viking Press, 1939. $1,500–$2,500 Bonhams
2014·12 Cannery Row. New York: The Viking Press, 1945. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2014·12 Tortilla Flat. New York: Covici Friede, [1935]. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2014·12 Nothing so Monstrous. New York: The Pynson Printers of New York, 1936. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2014·12 In Dubious Battle. New York: Covici Friede, [1936]. $1,200–$1,800 Bonhams
2014·12 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking Press, [1939]. $6,000–$8,000 Bonhams
2014·12 The Forgotten Village. New York: The Viking Press, 1941. $1,500–$2,500 Bonhams
2014·12 The Moon Is Down. New York: The Viking Press, 1942. $2,000–$3,000 Bonhams
2014·12 Nothing So Monstrous. [New York: Pynson Printers for Relmond U. Shaffer], 1936. $200–$300 Bonhams
2014·07 east of eden. new york: the viking press, 1952 $1,716–$2,575 Sotheby's
2014·07 the grapes of wrath. new york: the viking press, 1939 $5,149–$6,866 Sotheby's
2014·07 to a god unknown. new york: robert o. ballou, 1933 $4,291–$6,866 Sotheby's
2014·06 Sweet Thursday. New York: Viking Press, [March], 1954. $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2014·06 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: The Viking Press, [1939]. $25,000–$35,000 Bonhams
2014·06 Autograph Manuscript, titled "Sag Harbor Saga / Notes on the questionable art of the novel," 1 p, legal folio, $2,500–$3,500 Bonhams
2014·06 Autograph Manuscript, $120,000–$180,000 Bonhams
2013·12 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: The Viking Press, [1939]. $1,000–$2,000 Bonhams
2013·11 Of Mice and Men. New York: Covici Friede, [1937]. $500–$700 Bonhams
2013·10 JOHNSON, NUNNALLY. Mimeographed manuscript, revised temporary screenplay of The Grapes of Wrath, 149 pp (blue revision pp bound in, final six pp supplied in facsimile), plus 8 pp of shooting schedules bound in at rear, $1,500–$2,000 Bonhams
2013·10 Mimeographed manuscript, revised final draft of The Tiger, 125 pp, 4to, n.p., April 12, 1951, in red Twentieth Century-Fox wrappers, $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2013·10 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: The Viking Press, [1939]. $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2013·06 Typed Manuscript with annotations in various hands, 46 pp, 4to, n.p., [1945], being the original draft of "The Pearl of the World" as published in Woman's Home Companion, $4,000–$6,000 Bonhams
2013·06 Of Mice and Men. New York: Covici Friede, [1937]. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2013·06 East of Eden. New York: Viking Press, 1952. $300–$500 Bonhams
2013·02 SAROYAN, WILLIAM. 3 Mimeographed Manuscripts, approx 477 pp, 4to, Beverly Hills, CA, July 31, 1953 to June 18, 1954, being 3 drafts of Saroyan's screenplay for The Wayward Bus, $600–$900 Bonhams
2013·02 The Grapes of Wrath. Toronto: Macmillan, [April, 1939]. $500–$750 Bonhams
2013·02 SOLOW, EUGENE. Mimeographed Manuscript, 174 pp, 4to, n.p., [1939], being Solow's screenplay for the 1939 film adaptation of Of Mice and Men, $350–$450 Bonhams
2013·02 Die Früchte des Zornes. Zürich: Humanitas Verlag, [1940]. $500–$750 Bonhams
2013·02 ANDERSON, ROBERT. Mimeographed Manuscript, 63 pp, 4to, n.p., May 8, 1949, $300–$450 Bonhams
2013·02 Of Mice and Men. New York: Covici Friede, [1937.] $600–$800 Bonhams
2013·02 Flemish baroque style ebonized table casket, 19th century, $3,000–$5,000 Bonhams
2012·10 The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking, [1939]. $1,500–$2,500 Bonhams
2012·10 How Edith MacGillicuddy met RLS. Cleveland: The Rowfant Club, 1943. $800–$1,200 Bonhams
2012·10 Die Früchte des Zornes. Zürich: Humanitas Verlag, [1940]. $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2012·10 The Grapes of Wrath. Toronto: Macmillan, [April, 1939]. $1,000–$1,500 Bonhams
2012·10 ANDERSON, ROBERT. Mimeographed Manuscript, 63 pp, 4to, n.p., May 8, 1949, $600–$900 Bonhams
2012·10 SOLOW, EUGENE. Mimeographed Manuscript, 174 pp, 4to, n.p., [1939], being Solow's screenplay for the 1939 film adaptation of Of Mice and Men, $700–$900 Bonhams
2012·10 Bombs Away. The Story of a Bomber Team. New York: Viking Press, 1942. $1,500–$2,500 Bonhams
2012·10 Cup of Gold. New York: Robert M. McBride, 1929. $6,000–$9,000 Bonhams
2012·10 The Winter of Our Discontent. New York: Viking Press, 1961. $1,500–$2,000 Bonhams

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