Frederic James Auction Prices and Value Guide
Frederic James auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 162 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Frederic James auction prices: quick answer
Frederic James auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Frederic James
- Source records
- 162
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Frederic James market snapshot
Frederic James shows developing auction liquidity with 41 tracked lots. Median realized sale is around $225. Category concentration is still broad or sparse. Last 12 months recorded 10 sales. Latest recorded sale: 2025-11-08.
Realized price distribution
- Under $1,000 (94.7% · 36 sales)
- $1,000 to $10,000 (5.3% · 2 sales)
- $10,000+ (0.0% · 0 sales)
- Median sale (last 12 months)
- $225
- Sales recorded (last 12 months)
- 10
- Median shift vs prior year
- +100.0%
- Latest recorded sale
- 2025-11-08
Artist context
About Frederic James
Born
1915
Died
1985
Nationality
American
Frederic James (1915–1985) was an American painter described in the collected biographical record as a specialist in watercolor and as associated with Regionalism. Authority files from Wikidata and VIAF align on his identity, occupation, nationality, and life years, while the National Gallery of Art maintains a dedicated artist record. The available source pack is much stronger on identity than on a detailed career narrative: it does not establish exact birth or death dates, training, principal locations, exhibitions, or named bodies of work. Collectors are therefore most likely to encounter James through attributed paintings and works on paper in secondary-market listings, where medium, signatures, inscriptions, dimensions, condition, and provenance help connect an object to the correct artist. Because Frederic James is not a uniquely identifying name and public biography is limited, auction records should be matched carefully against the 1915–1985 American watercolor painter rather than accepted from name alone.
RegionalismWatercolor
Common works and media
The collected biography specifically supports watercolor as Frederic James's principal medium, while the auction page groups matched lots under fine art and paintings and works on paper and prints. Collectors may therefore encounter watercolor paintings or other works catalogued on paper. The source pack does not substantiate sculpture, ceramics, posters, formal print editions, named subjects, or named series as characteristic output. Each object's medium, support, signature, inscriptions, dimensions, and attribution should be checked rather than inferred from the artist name or a broad auction category.
Market and appraisal context
Market evidence in the collected pack is limited to Appraisily's matched public auction data, so appraisal should begin with genuinely comparable lots rather than a single overall median. Compare watercolors and other works on paper with objects of similar dimensions, date, subject, execution, condition, and attribution status. Examine signatures and inscriptions, restoration, provenance, exhibition or catalogue references, and edition information where relevant. Sale date, auction venue, currency, and the treatment of buyer fees can also affect comparison. Broad category labels should not be treated as proof that James worked in every listed medium. Private sales, incomplete feeds, name collisions, and later attribution changes may be absent from the public record.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Fine art and paintings
- Works on paper and prints
Value drivers
- Medium, support, dimensions, date, and subject matter
- Condition, restoration history, and surface quality
- Signature, inscriptions, edition details when applicable, and attribution confidence
- Provenance, exhibition history, and catalogue references
- Comparable public auction sales for works similar in medium, size, date, condition, and attribution
Appraisal caveats
- Public auction records are appraisal inputs rather than a final valuation.
- Private sales, incomplete auction feeds, name collisions, and attribution changes may not be represented.
- Broad auction categories do not establish that the artist worked in every medium included within those categories.
- Reported auction totals may not be directly comparable when fee treatment, currency, venue, or sale date differs.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context is based on collected public records: medium confidence, adequate source quality.
- Wikidata library authority
- VIAF library authority
- National Gallery of Art museum or university
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Appraisily appraisily artist page
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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Frederic James 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 Frederic James artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.