John Ford Clymer Paintings: Sold Prices and Values

92 John Ford Clymer auction results are recorded in Appraisily's auction index from 1992 to 2026. John Ford Clymer (1907–1989) painted more than 80 Saturday Evening Post covers, then the fur-trade and Oregon Trail West.

What John Ford Clymer works sell for

Of 66 priced John Ford Clymer auction results, half sold between $1,100 and $62,500. The median was $13,145 and the highest $400,000. Size, subject, medium, condition and provenance explain most of the spread.

Auction results
92
Median price
$13,145
Middle half
$1,100 to $62,500
Highest recorded
$400,000
Latest sale
2026-05-15

Highest recorded John Ford Clymer auction results

Work, as cataloguedAuction houseDatePrice
Grand Parade–Green River Rendezvous 1836 Christie's 2020-10-28 $400,000
The Booshway 24 x 40in (Painted in 1973.) Bonhams 2019-11-25 $300,000
"Clearing the Palo Duro" Scottsdale Art Auction, LLC 2024-04-13 $260,000
"Trading Down the Sweetwater" Scottsdale Art Auction, LLC 2024-04-13 $250,000
The White Buffalo 20 x 40in (Painted in 1972.) Bonhams 2019-11-25 $220,000
Aspen Trail 15 x 30in Bonhams 2019-02-08 $218,750

Prices as reported by each auction house; some include the buyer's premium. Top results are the exception: compare your work with sales of similar size, subject and medium.

John Ford Clymer market snapshot

John Ford Clymer shows solid auction liquidity with 88 tracked lots. Median realized sale is around $19,000. Category concentration is still broad or sparse. Last 12 months recorded 2 sales. Latest recorded sale: 2025-11-08.

Realized price distribution

  • Under $1,000 (17.2% · 11 sales)
  • $1,000 to $10,000 (25.0% · 16 sales)
  • $10,000+ (57.8% · 37 sales)
Median sale (last 12 months)
$25,000
Sales recorded (last 12 months)
2
Median shift vs prior year
0.0%
Latest recorded sale
2025-11-08

Artist context

About John Ford Clymer

Born

1907

Died

1989

Nationality

American

Also known as

John Clymer, John F. Clymer

John Ford Clymer was an American painter and illustrator, born in Ellensburg, Washington, in 1907. Authority records identify him as both a painter and illustrator, while the Clymer Museum documents an early commitment to drawing and correspondence-course art study. Clymer developed a career in illustration and advertising and is especially associated with images of the American West. His work also reached a broad audience through covers for The Saturday Evening Post, including mid-1950s scenes of outdoor recreation and family life. Collectors may encounter Clymer through Western subjects, nature-based imagery, original paintings, drawings, and published illustration. His connection to the Pacific Northwest and later Western settings gives his work a distinct place in twentieth-century American representational art, while his magazine work connects it to the history of commercial illustration.

American Western artOil on masonitePen and ink drawingAmerican WestNature and mountain landscapes

Common works and media

Clymer is encountered in painting and illustration contexts. Documented work includes early pen-and-ink drawings, published Saturday Evening Post covers, and auction records for oil on masonite. Subjects associated with his work include the American West, outdoor life, mountain settings, and nature. When assessing a work, distinguish an original painting or drawing from a published illustration or reproduction, and retain any labels, publication information, exhibition history, or provenance that can connect it to a known commission or image.

Market and appraisal context

Public auction records collected for John Ford Clymer include original works described as oil on masonite, as well as material connected with his illustration career. Appraisal should begin with a direct examination of the object: medium and support, dimensions, condition, signature and attribution, provenance, date, and subject all help determine the appropriate comparable set. A Western scene or a documented magazine-cover illustration should not automatically be compared with every work by the artist. Use sale records from comparable works, similar formats, and similar selling conditions. Reported auction totals may include buyer premiums or other fees, so realized-price figures need like-for-like comparison rather than simple price prediction.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • Oil paintings on masonite
  • Magazine-cover illustrations

Value drivers

  1. Medium and support
  2. Dimensions
  3. Condition
  4. Provenance
  5. Attribution confidence
  6. Subject matter

Appraisal caveats

  • Auction results can include buyer premiums or fees depending on the reporting source; comparisons should use like-for-like results.
  • The collected auction summary tracks a substantial but incomplete set of lots, so it should not be treated as a complete catalogue raisonné or a fixed price guide.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

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

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Recent sale records

Selected public auction records currently in the Appraisily lot index. Use them as market context, then request a formal appraisal before you sell, insure, or donate.

Don't price your John Ford Clymer from these lots

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 John Ford Clymer

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is John Ford Clymer 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 John Ford Clymer artwork?

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