Chris van Allsburg's Auction Record Jumps 77%
3 min read · 11 Jun 2025
'It was wrapped in an apron of steam.' (Cover Illustration for The Polar Express). Image courtesy of Christie's
Chris van Allsburg, 'It was wrapped in an apron of steam.' (Cover Illustration for The Polar Express) (1984) sold for $94,500, more than three times the low estimate at Christie's in New York on June 10. The pastel on brown paper work has been traded once in the past.
The sale beat the artist’s previous auction record by $41,400, a 77% rise.
The Wreck of the Zephyr. Image courtesy of Rago Arts & Auction Center
The previous record was set by The Wreck of the Zephyr (1981), which sold for $53,100 at Rago Arts & Auction Center on November 05, 2016.
Sale Date | Title | Price | Record Increase | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025-06-10 | 'It was wrapped in an apron of steam.' (Cover Illustration for The Polar Express) | $94,500 | 78 % | Christie's | New York |
2016-11-05 | The Wreck of the Zephyr | $53,100 | - | Rago Arts & Auction Center | Lambertville |
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