Carl von Linné Auction Prices and Value Guide

Carl von Linné auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 219 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Carl von Linné auction prices: quick answer

Carl von Linné auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Carl von Linné
Source records
219
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Carl von Linné

Carl von Linné (1707–1778), born Carl Linnaeus and ennobled by the Swedish crown in 1761, was a botanist, physician, and zoologist widely recognized as the father of modern taxonomy. He formalized binomial nomenclature, the two-part Latin naming system that remains the foundation for classifying all living organisms. While Linné was principally a scientist, his work generated a substantial body of botanical and zoological illustration produced under his close direction. The Netherlands Institute for Art History (RKD) records him as a painter and draftsperson, reflecting original nature studies and botanical sketches attributed to his hand. His landmark publications—including Systema Naturae and Species Plantarum—required teams of engravers and colorists to produce detailed plates from workshop drawings. Collectors encounter Linné's name most often through hand-colored natural history prints, portrait engravings by 18th-century artists such as Alexander Roslin, and rare annotated manuscripts.

18th-century Enlightenment natural history illustrationbotanical illustration (hand-colored copperplate engraving)ink and watercolor botanical drawingsscientific manuscripts and annotated proofsbotanical specimens and plant taxonomyzoological and natural history plates

Common works and media

Common works associated with Carl von Linné include hand-colored botanical engravings, zoological plates, and anatomical illustrations from publications such as Systema Naturae, Species Plantarum, and Hortus Cliffortianus. Portrait paintings and mezzotint engravings of Linné—most notably by Alexander Roslin and other 18th-century Swedish artists—appear regularly at auction. Original ink and watercolor botanical studies, herbarium specimen sheets with annotations, signed correspondence, and annotated manuscripts also surface occasionally. Later printed editions and reproductions of his botanical plates are widely available and generally valued well below first-edition originals.

Market and appraisal context

Works associated with Carl von Linné at auction include hand-colored copperplate engravings from his publications, original botanical drawings, portraits of Linné by 18th-century painters, and autograph manuscripts or letters. Value depends on attribution certainty, whether a lot is an original drawing versus a published print, edition (first versus later re-strike), hand-coloring quality, condition of paper and pigments, and provenance linking the item to Linné or his workshop. Items directly connected to Linné—autograph manuscripts, personally annotated proofs, or original drawings—command significant premiums over standard edition prints. Collectors should verify attribution carefully, as most natural history plates bearing his name were produced by workshop artists executing his scientific vision rather than drawn by Linné himself.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Attribution: works by Linné's own hand are extremely rare and command a premium; most plates were executed by workshop artists under his direction
  2. Publication edition: first-edition plates from Systema Naturae or Species Plantarum are more valuable than later re-strikes or reproductions
  3. Hand-coloring quality and condition of paper and pigments
  4. Provenance linking to Linné or his immediate circle significantly increases value

Appraisal caveats

  • Many auction lots bearing Linné's name are prints produced by workshop engravers, not original drawings by Linné himself
  • Portrait paintings of Linné by artists such as Alexander Roslin are attributed to those painters, not to Linné
  • Later printed editions and facsimiles of his botanical plates are widely available and valued well below first-edition originals
  • Autograph manuscripts and letters are scarce; authentication should reference established provenance

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Carl von Linné

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Carl von Linné worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Carl von Linné artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.