The results of the recent single artist sale of the work of Ansel Adams at Christie’s last week continued the strong run for the photographer’s work. The sale was the last of three sales which featured Adams prints from the collection of the Center of Creative Photography. (The statistics from the previous two sales are also available, from 2019, here, and from 2020, here.) This selection was led by a print of Half Dome, and with only one passed lot and a few positive surprises, the Total Sale Proceeds (of roughly $800K) came in well above the aggregate pre-sale estimate range.
The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):
| Summary Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Total Lots | 47 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | $421000 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | $628000 |
| Total Lots Sold | 46 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 1 |
| Buy In % | 2.13% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | $806250 |
Here is the breakdown (using our typical Low, Mid, and High definitions):
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 25 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 24 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 1 |
| Low Buy In % | 4.00% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | $172000 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | $271500 |
| Mid Total Lots | 22 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 22 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 0 |
| Mid Buy In % | 0.00% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | $456000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | $588750 |
| Total High Lots | 0 |
| Total High Lots Sold | NA |
| Total High Lots Bought In | NA |
| High Buy In % | NA |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | $0 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | $0 |
The top lot by High estimate was tied between two lots: lot 2, Ansel Adams, Mount Williamson, Sierra Nevada, from Manzanar, California, 1944/1950-1962, and lot 11, Ansel Adams, Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California, 1960/1962, both estimated at $30000-50000. The Half Dome view was the top outcome of the sale at $106250 (image above via Christie’s), while the Mount Williamson view sold at $47500.
89.13% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were 4 positive surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate) (images above via Christie’s):
Lot 8, Ansel Adams, Thunderstorm, Yosemite Valley, California, 1945/c1979, estimated at $10000-15000, sold at $37500
Lot 11, Ansel Adams, Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California, 1960/1962, estimated at $30000-50000, sold at $106250
Lot 25, Ansel Adams, Young Oaks in Snow, Yosemite National Park, California, 1938/1962-1963, estimated at $6000-8000, sold at $18750
Lot 35, Ansel Adams, In Cascade National Park, Washington, c1960/c1970, estimated at $6000-8000, sold at $17500
The complete lot by lot results can be found here.
