Karl Bodmer Auction Prices and Value Guide
Karl Bodmer auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,779 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Karl Bodmer auction prices: quick answer
Karl Bodmer auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Karl Bodmer
- Source records
- 1,779
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Karl Bodmer
Karl Bodmer (1809–1893) was a Swiss-French printmaker, painter, etcher, and lithographer whose technical versatility spanned zinc engraving, drawing, and book illustration. Born Johann Carl Bodmer in Zurich, he trained as an engraver and was active from the mid-1820s through the end of the nineteenth century. He is recognized in museum and library authority records—including the Library of Congress, VIAF, and the RKD—as a significant graphic artist of Swiss and French heritage. Over a career lasting nearly seven decades, Bodmer produced prints, paintings, and illustrations that secured him a lasting presence in European and American collections. After 1843, following the birth of his son, he adopted the shorter signature K Bodmer. His brothers Rudolf and sons Henri-Adolphe and Frédéric-Rodolphe were also artists, a family pattern well documented in Dutch and Swiss art-historical records.
etchinglithographyzinc engravingoil paintingillustration
Common works and media
Collectors most frequently encounter Bodmer's work in the form of hand-colored etchings and aquatints, lithographs, and zinc engravings. Oil paintings and drawings also appear at auction, though less often than prints. His graphic output covers landscape, travel, and natural-history illustration subjects. Many lots are single plates or bound series from published travel narratives.
Market and appraisal context
Karl Bodmer maintains a deep and active auction market with 671 recorded lots (588 with prices) spanning 1991 through May 2026. Prices cluster between $550 (25th percentile) and $2,250 (75th percentile), with a median of $1,150 and a ceiling at $32,500—reflecting a market where most individual prints trade in the mid-hundreds to low thousands, while exceptional hand-colored aquatints of iconic Native American portraits can reach five figures. Liquidity has softened recently: 46 priced lots in the trailing twelve months versus 127 in the prior period, though this may reflect cyclical listing cadence rather than diminished demand. Ten auction houses appear in the top-ten roster, including Sotheby's, Bonhams, and Heritage Auctions alongside specialist print dealers such as Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books and Arader Galleries, indicating both blue-chip and specialist-channel demand. The most sought-after subjects are Bodmer's hand-colored aquatint portraits of Mandan, Sioux, and Gros Ventres figures—especially the "Pehriska-Ruhpa" compositions, which have recently realized $5,050–$8,500 at Nadeau's and Trillium. Scenic landscape and hunting subjects from the Maximilian expedition typically trade between $400 and $1,450 per plate. Group lots of three to four engravings generally sell in the $300–$425 range.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- etching
- aquatint
- lithography
- zinc engraving
- line engraving
Value drivers
- Medium and technique: etchings, lithographs, aquatints, and oil paintings each carry distinct market segments.
- Signature form: works signed K Bodmer date from after 1843, which can help narrow attribution and period.
- Condition and plate quality are especially important for prints and engravings.
- With 1,779 recorded lots, Bodmer has a substantial and well-documented auction history, providing comparable sale data.
- Medium and technique: hand-colored aquatints command the highest prices among prints; uncolored engravings and later tinted etchings trade at lower levels.
- Subject matter: Native American portraits (Mandan, Sioux, Gros Ventres) consistently outperform scenic landscape and wildlife plates.
Appraisal caveats
- Attribution should be verified against catalogue references and plate signatures; variant signatures (K Bodmer after 1843) affect dating.
- Provenance is a key factor for higher-value works; many prints were published in editions and reissued, so print state and edition matter.
- Auction records reflect 671 lots over 35 years; individual sale prices vary widely by subject, condition, and house, and past results do not guarantee future value.
- Attribution should be confirmed through plate signatures, catalogue references, and expert examination; variant signatures and later restrikes can be confused with first-edition work.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
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 Karl Bodmer 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 Karl Bodmer artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.