Chesley Bonestell Sold at Auction Prices

Painter, Illustrator, b. 1888 - d. 1986

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  • Chesley Bonestell
    Jul. 14, 2026

    Chesley Bonestell

    Est: $4,000 - $6,000

    Chesley Bonestell — "The Emperor of Shangrila rides a Triceratops past a volcanic range," 1977. Gouache on board, 9¼ x 7½ inches (23.5 x 19.1 cm), dated in pencil to verso, verso additionally titled in blue ink "The Origin of the Solar System" (indicating that Bonestell painted over an earlier piece, presumably a study for one of the illustrations in his 1961 bookThe Solar System. Unframed.

    Sotheby's
  • Chesley Bonestell, New York Central Building / At The Gateway To A Continent. 1930.
    May. 21, 2026

    Chesley Bonestell, New York Central Building / At The Gateway To A Continent. 1930.

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    Chesley Bonestell 1888-1986 New York Central Building / At The Gateway To A Continent. 1930. Condition B+: repaired tears at edges, some slightly into image; minor creases and abrasions in margins and image; repaired pin holes in corners. California-born Bonestell "was an American pioneer of space art who helped popularize manned space travel. He is well known for his cover art for science fiction magazines . . . as well as many books such as The Conquest of Space, The Exploration of Mars, and Beyond the Solar System" ( Chesleybonestell.com). In the 1920s, he lived in New York and helped design some of the iconic Art Deco facades and architectural elements for the Chrysler building, the New York Central Building, and many office and apartment buildings around the city. He also collaborated on the designs for the Plymouth Rock Memorial, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and various state capitols. It is not too surprising then, that he could render this mesmerizing and dramatic nighttime view down Park Avenue of the New York Central Building, a modern ziggurat, in all its glory. Construction on the building began in 1927 and was completed in 1929, at which point it was the tallest building in "Terminal City," the developed area that covered all of the tracks in the terminal. Zega p. 75, New York p. 67.

    Swann Auction Galleries
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1965). OUR INTENSEST RAY. oil on board12 x 12 in. (
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1965). OUR INTENSEST RAY. oil on board12 x 12 in. (

    Est: $3,000 - $5,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1965). OUR INTENSEST RAY. oil on board12 x 12 in. (30.5 x 30.5 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). REENTRY OF THE BABY SPACE STATION. oil on bo
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). REENTRY OF THE BABY SPACE STATION. oil on bo

    Est: $30,000 - $50,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). REENTRY OF THE BABY SPACE STATION. oil on board16 x 21 in (40.6 x 53.3 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). LAUNCH VEHICLE'S WINGED THIRD STATE AND ITS
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). LAUNCH VEHICLE'S WINGED THIRD STATE AND ITS

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). LAUNCH VEHICLE'S WINGED THIRD STATE AND ITS EMERGENCY EJECTION CAPSULES. oil on board13 x 28 1/2 in. (33 x 72.4 cm).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). RETURN OF THE ROCKET SHIP'S THIRD STAGE. oil
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). RETURN OF THE ROCKET SHIP'S THIRD STAGE. oil

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). RETURN OF THE ROCKET SHIP'S THIRD STAGE. oil on board22 1/2 x 17 1/2 in. (57.2 x 44.5 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). SEPARATION OVER THE PACIFIC. oil on board20
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). SEPARATION OVER THE PACIFIC. oil on board20

    Est: $12,000 - $18,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). SEPARATION OVER THE PACIFIC. oil on board20 1/8 x 16 in. (51 x 40.5 cm).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE 1976 VOYAGER MISSION ARRIVES AT SATURN,
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE 1976 VOYAGER MISSION ARRIVES AT SATURN,

    Est: $4,000 - $6,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE 1976 VOYAGER MISSION ARRIVES AT SATURN, 16 JANUARY 1980. oil on board16 ¾ × 18 ¼ in. (42.5 × 46.4 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ZERO HOUR MINUS FIVE. oil on Masonite19 ½ x
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ZERO HOUR MINUS FIVE. oil on Masonite19 ½ x

    Est: $12,000 - $18,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ZERO HOUR MINUS FIVE. oil on Masonite19 ½ x 14 ¼ in. (49.5 x 36.2 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ROCKET TO THE MOON. oil on Masonite29 1/8 x
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ROCKET TO THE MOON. oil on Masonite29 1/8 x

    Est: $12,000 - $18,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ROCKET TO THE MOON. oil on Masonite29 1/8 x 24 3/8 in. (74 x 62 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). EARLY STUDIES OF PLANETARY LANDSCAPES. 21 oi
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). EARLY STUDIES OF PLANETARY LANDSCAPES. 21 oi

    Est: $50,000 - $80,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). EARLY STUDIES OF PLANETARY LANDSCAPES. 21 oil sketches, chiefly on parchment-style Acawam Bond paper; with accompanying typescript captions on five separate sheets8 ½ x 11 in. (21 x 27.9 cm.) sheet size, drawing size varies, typically about 4 x 6 in. (10 x 15 cm.)(26).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). BATTLE OF GRAVITY. oil on board13 ¼ x 9 5/8
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). BATTLE OF GRAVITY. oil on board13 ¼ x 9 5/8

    Est: $6,000 - $8,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). BATTLE OF GRAVITY. oil on board13 ¼ x 9 5/8 in. (33.7 x 24.4 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ATOMIC BOMBING OF NEW YORK. mixed media on p
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ATOMIC BOMBING OF NEW YORK. mixed media on p

    Est: $6,000 - $8,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ATOMIC BOMBING OF NEW YORK. mixed media on photograph15 ½ x 18 ¼ in. (38.1 x 46.3 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TARGET FOR METEORS. oil on board13 ¼ x 9 5/8
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TARGET FOR METEORS. oil on board13 ¼ x 9 5/8

    Est: $6,000 - $8,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TARGET FOR METEORS. oil on board13 ¼ x 9 5/8 in. (33.7 x 24.5 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). FORMATION OF THE EARTH. oil on board20 x 30
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). FORMATION OF THE EARTH. oil on board20 x 30

    Est: $10,000 - $15,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). FORMATION OF THE EARTH. oil on board20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TWO WORKS: THE SURFACE OF MARS. each gouache
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TWO WORKS: THE SURFACE OF MARS. each gouache

    Est: $3,000 - $5,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TWO WORKS: THE SURFACE OF MARS. each gouache on boardeach 3 x 15 in. (7.6 x 38.1 cm.)(2).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). MILKY WAY GALAXY. oil on board15 ½ x 29 ¾ in
    Dec. 12, 2025

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). MILKY WAY GALAXY. oil on board15 ½ x 29 ¾ in

    Est: $12,000 - $18,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). MILKY WAY GALAXY. oil on board15 ½ x 29 ¾ in. (39.4 x 75.6 cm.).

    Christie's
  • Chesley Bonestell. New York Central Building / At The Gateway To A Continent. 1930.
    Nov. 25, 2025

    Chesley Bonestell. New York Central Building / At The Gateway To A Continent. 1930.

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    Chesley Bonestell 1888-1986 New York Central Building / At The Gateway To A Continent. 1930. Condition B+: replaced losses in lower corners; repaired tears, small replaced losses and creases in margins and slightly into image. California-born Bonestell "was an American pioneer of space art who helped popularize manned space travel. He is well known for his cover art for science fiction magazines . . . as well as many books such as The Conquest of Space, The Exploration of Mars, and Beyond the Solar System" (https://www.bonestell.org/). In the 1920s, he lived in New York, and helped design some of the iconic Art Deco facades and architectural elements for the Chrysler building, the New York Central Building, and many office and apartment buildings around the city. He also collaborated on the designs for the Plymouth Rock Memorial, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and various state capitols. It is not too surprising then, that he could render this mesmerizing and dramatic nighttime view down Park Avenue of the New York Central Building, a modern ziggurat, in all its glory. Construction on the building began in 1927 and was completed in 1929, at which point it was the tallest building in "Terminal City," the developed area that covered all of the tracks in the terminal. Zega p. 75, New York p. 67.

    Swann Auction Galleries
  • Chesley Bonestell, New York Central Building
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Chesley Bonestell, New York Central Building

    Est: $5,000 - $6,000

    Chesley Bonestell New York Central Building 1930 41.25 h x 27.25 w in (105 x 69 cm) This romanticized nighttime view of the New York Central Building-a major element in the Grand Central Station complex on 46th Street in Manhattan-looks south on Park Avenue. Almost fifty years after the 1929 edifice was designed by the noted architectural firm of Warren & Wetmore, it was renamed the Helmsley Building to honor its owner, New York real-estate mogul Harry Helmsley. With the emphasis here on glamour and prestige, we get only a hint of the ambitious design at the base of the 34-story building: two arched portals which allow automobiles to bypass street traffic below, flanked, in turn, by smaller rectangular portals opening onto pedestrian shopping arcades. Surprisingly, the building today looks better than it did at the time of the poster, thanks to the efforts of Helmsley, who revised the roof and facade in 1978 with gilding. Sadly, it's difficult not to mention the marring of this spectacular urban vista by the inclusion of the 58-story high Pan Am building, whose Met Life renaming did nothing to change its invasive shortcomings. Lathem Litho., Long Island City, NY Literature: Zega, p. 75; New York, p. 67; The American Image, p. 43; PAI-XCIII, 150 This work will ship from Chicago, Illinois.

    Poster Auctions International Inc
  • Chesley Bonestell
    Jul. 15, 2025

    Chesley Bonestell

    Est: $30,000 - $50,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL Matte Painting Study for the film "Destination Moon." Gouache, oil, and graphite on panel, 1949. 19 × 72 in. (48.3 × 182.9 cm). 

    Sotheby's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. 1930. 40¾x27 inches, 103½x68½ cm. Latham Lith
    Oct. 10, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. 1930. 40¾x27 inches, 103½x68½ cm. Latham Lith

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986) NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. 1930. 40¾x27 inches, 103½x68½ cm. Latham Litho. & Ptg. Co., Long Island City. Condition A-: minor repaired tears at edges, one into upper image; minor restoration at edges; minor creases and abrasions in image. California-born Bonestell "was an American pioneer of space art who helped popularize manned space travel. He is well known for his cover art for science fiction magazines . . . as well as many books such as The Conquest of Space, The Exploration of Mars, and Beyond the Solar System" (https://www.bonestell.org/). In the 1920s, he lived in New York, and helped design some of the iconic Art Deco facades and architectural elements for the Chrysler building, the New York Central Building, and many office and apartment buildings around the city. He also collaborated on the designs for the Plymouth Rock Memorial, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and various state capitols. It is not too surprising then, that he could render this mesmerizing and dramatic nighttime view down Park Avenue of the New York Central Building, a modern ziggurat, in all its glory. Construction on the building began in 1927 and was completed in 1929, at which point it was the tallest building in "Terminal City," the developed area that covered all of the tracks in the terminal. Zega p. 75, New York p. 67.

    Swann Auction Galleries
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986) New York Central Building / At the Gateway to a Continent. Circa 1929.
    Sep. 26, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986) New York Central Building / At the Gateway to a Continent. Circa 1929.

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986) New York Central Building / At the Gateway to a Continent. Circa 1929. Lithograph poster. 103½x68½ cm, 40¾x27 inches; Latham Litho. & Ptg. Co., Long Island City. California-born Bonestell "was an American pioneer of space art who helped popularize manned space travel. He is well known for his cover art for science fiction magazines . . . as well as many books such as The Conquest of Space, The Exploration of Mars, and Beyond the Solar System" (https://www.bonestell.org/). In the 1920s, he lived in New York, and helped design some of the iconic Art Deco facades and architectural elements for the Chrysler building, the New York Central Building, and many office and apartment buildings around the city. He also collaborated on the designs for the Plymouth Rock Memorial, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and various state capitols. It is not too surprising then, that he could render this mesmerizing and dramatic nighttime view down Park Avenue of the New York Central Building, a modern ziggurat, in all its glory. Construction on the building began in 1927 and was completed in 1929, at which point it was the tallest building in "Terminal City," the developed area that covered all of the tracks in the terminal. Zega p. 75, New York p. 67.

    Swann Auction Galleries
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TRANSIT OF THE EARTH. oil on board 9 ½ x 18
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TRANSIT OF THE EARTH. oil on board 9 ½ x 18

    Est: $4,000 - $6,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TRANSIT OF THE EARTH. oil on board 9 ½ x 18 ¾ in. (24.2 x 47 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). EXPLORING COPERNICUS. oil on board 14 ¾ x 26
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). EXPLORING COPERNICUS. oil on board 14 ¾ x 26

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). EXPLORING COPERNICUS. oil on board 14 ¾ x 26 in. (37.5 x 66 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE MOON FALLS BACK ON THE EARTH. oil on boa
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE MOON FALLS BACK ON THE EARTH. oil on boa

    Est: $4,000 - $6,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE MOON FALLS BACK ON THE EARTH. oil on board 13 ¼ x 9 ¾ in. (33.6 x 24.8 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TYCHO BRAHE LOCATES POSITION OF THE NOVA OF
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TYCHO BRAHE LOCATES POSITION OF THE NOVA OF

    Est: $2,000 - $3,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). TYCHO BRAHE LOCATES POSITION OF THE NOVA OF 1572 IN CASSIOPEIA. oil on board 16 x 13 7⁄8 in. (40.6 x 35.3 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE STRAIGHT WALL. oil on board 12 5⁄8 x 10
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE STRAIGHT WALL. oil on board 12 5⁄8 x 10

    Est: $5,000 - $7,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE STRAIGHT WALL. oil on board 12 5⁄8 x 10 5⁄8 in. (32.1 x 27 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). IN ORBIT 600 MILES ABOVE MARS! PREPARING TO
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). IN ORBIT 600 MILES ABOVE MARS! PREPARING TO

    Est: $20,000 - $30,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). IN ORBIT 600 MILES ABOVE MARS! PREPARING TO LAND. oil on board 17 ¼ x 33 ¼ in. (43.8 x 84.5 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ASSEMBLING THE MARS EXPEDITION. oil on board
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ASSEMBLING THE MARS EXPEDITION. oil on board

    Est: $15,000 - $25,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ASSEMBLING THE MARS EXPEDITION. oil on board 17 1⁄8 x 33 5⁄8 in. (43.5 x 85.4 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). LUNAR EXPEDITION IN SINUS RORIS. oil on boar
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). LUNAR EXPEDITION IN SINUS RORIS. oil on boar

    Est: $7,000 - $10,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). LUNAR EXPEDITION IN SINUS RORIS. oil on board 14 ½ x 29 3⁄8 in. (36.8 x 74.6 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE UNLOADING ON THE MOON. oil on board 13 x
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE UNLOADING ON THE MOON. oil on board 13 x

    Est: $7,000 - $10,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE UNLOADING ON THE MOON. oil on board 13 x 27 ½ in. (33 x 69.9 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). DESCENDING TOWARD THE MOON. oil on board 13
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). DESCENDING TOWARD THE MOON. oil on board 13

    Est: $6,000 - $8,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). DESCENDING TOWARD THE MOON. oil on board 13 ¼ x 16 in. (33.7 x 40.6 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ASSEMBLY OF THE MOONSHIPS 1,075 MILES ABOVE
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ASSEMBLY OF THE MOONSHIPS 1,075 MILES ABOVE

    Est: $12,000 - $18,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). ASSEMBLY OF THE MOONSHIPS 1,075 MILES ABOVE THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. oil on board 15 3⁄8 x 33 5⁄8 in. (39.2 x 85.4 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THREE-STAGE LAUNCH VEHICLE DESIGNED TO SEND
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THREE-STAGE LAUNCH VEHICLE DESIGNED TO SEND

    Est: $12,000 - $18,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THREE-STAGE LAUNCH VEHICLE DESIGNED TO SEND THE BABY SPACE STATION INTO ORBIT. oil on board 21 3⁄8 x 16 5⁄8 in. (54.3 x 42.2 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE BABY SPACE STATION. oil on board 21 1⁄8
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE BABY SPACE STATION. oil on board 21 1⁄8

    Est: $20,000 - $30,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE BABY SPACE STATION. oil on board 21 1⁄8 x 16 ¼ in. (53.7 x 41.3 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). CROSSING THE LAST FRONTIER. oil on board 15
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). CROSSING THE LAST FRONTIER. oil on board 15

    Est: $12,000 - $18,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). CROSSING THE LAST FRONTIER. oil on board 15 x 31 in. (38.1 x 78.7 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). MAN WILL CONQUER SPACE SOON: WHAT ARE WE WAI
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). MAN WILL CONQUER SPACE SOON: WHAT ARE WE WAI

    Est: $20,000 - $30,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). MAN WILL CONQUER SPACE SOON: WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?. oil on board 22 ½ x 18 in. (57.2 x 45.7 cm.).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE SHIP STANDS NOSE UP, ALL READY FOR THE L
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE SHIP STANDS NOSE UP, ALL READY FOR THE L

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). THE SHIP STANDS NOSE UP, ALL READY FOR THE LONG DART TO MARS. oil and paint on board 15 ¼ x 19 ½ in. (38.7 x 49.5 cm.) (sight).

    Christie's
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). SATURN AS SEEN FROM TITAN. oil on board 18 7
    Sep. 12, 2024

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). SATURN AS SEEN FROM TITAN. oil on board 18 7

    Est: $30,000 - $50,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). SATURN AS SEEN FROM TITAN. oil on board 18 7⁄8 x 23 ¾ in. (47.9 x 60.3 cm.).

    Christie's
  • Painting, Chesley Bonestell
    Aug. 16, 2024

    Painting, Chesley Bonestell

    Est: $2,000 - $4,000

    Chesley Bonestell (American, 1888-1986), "Prehistoric Confrontation," oil on canvas affixed to board, signed lower left, sight: 13.5"h x 17.5"w, overall (with frame): 16.5"h x 20.5"w

    Clars Auctions
  • Painting, Chesley Bonestell
    Jul. 19, 2024

    Painting, Chesley Bonestell

    Est: $3,000 - $5,000

    Chesley Bonestell (American, 1888-1986), "Prehistoric Confrontation," oil on canvas affixed to board, signed lower left, sight: 13.5"h x 17.5"w, overall (with frame): 16.5"h x 20.5"w

    Clars Auctions
  • New York Central Building. 1930.
    Jul. 11, 2024

    New York Central Building. 1930.

    Est: $6,000 - $8,000

    ARTIST: CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986) SIZE: 27 x 40 3/4 in./68.3 x 103.6 cm PRINTER: Lathem Litho., Long Island City, New York DESCRIPTION: This romanticized nighttime view of the New York Central Building—a major element in the Grand Central Station complex on 46th Street in Manhattan—looks south on Park Avenue. Almost fifty years after the 1929 edifice was designed by the noted architectural firm of Warren & Wetmore, it was renamed the Helmsley Building to honor its owner, New York real-estate mogul Harry Helmsley. With the emphasis here on glamour and prestige, we get only a hint of the ambitious design at the base of the 34-story building: two arched portals which allow automobiles to bypass street traffic below, flanked, in turn, by smaller rectangular portals opening onto pedestrian shopping arcades. Surprisingly, the building today looks better than it did at the time of the poster, thanks to the efforts of Helmsley, who revised the roof and facade in 1978 with gilding. Sadly, it’s difficult not to mention the marring of this spectacular urban vista by the inclusion of the 58-story high Pan Am building, whose Met Life renaming did nothing to change its invasive shortcomings. (Art Deco; New York; American)

    Poster Auctions International Inc
  • BONESTELL, Chesley (1888-1986) – BARDELL, James. Sundown. 1...
    Nov. 10, 2023

    BONESTELL, Chesley (1888-1986) – BARDELL, James. Sundown. 1...

    Est: $250 - $450

    BONESTELL, Chesley (1888-1986) – BARDELL, James. Sundown. 1937. Pictorial map of San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley. Includes a matching key print to the panorama, by J.C. Bardell, labeling Bay Area landmarks. Size of larger 8 ¼ x 24”. Key print linen backed; panorama unbacked. Minor abrasions. A/A-.

    Potter & Potter Auctions Inc.
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. Circa 1929. 40¾x27 inches, 103½x68½ cm. Lath
    Nov. 09, 2023

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. Circa 1929. 40¾x27 inches, 103½x68½ cm. Lath

    Est: $5,000 - $7,500

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986) NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. Circa 1929. 40 3/4x27 inches, 103 1/2x68 1/2 cm. Latham Litho. & Ptg. Co., Long Island City. Condition B: repaired tear from bottom edge, through central left image; repaired tears with overpainting, creases and restoration in margins and image. California-born Bonestell "was an American pioneer of space art who helped popularize manned space travel. He is well known for his cover art for science fiction magazines . . . as well as many books such as The Conquest of Space, The Exploration of Mars, and Beyond the Solar System" (https://www.bonestell.org/). In the 1920s, he lived in New York, and helped design some of the iconic Art Deco facades and architectural elements for the Chrysler building, the New York Central Building, and many office and apartment buildings around the city. He also collaborated on the designs for the Plymouth Rock Memorial, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and various state capitols. It is not too surprising then, that he could render this mesmerizing and dramatic nighttime view down Park Avenue of the New York Central Building, a modern ziggurat, in all its glory. Construction on the building began in 1927 and was completed in 1929, at which point it was the tallest building in "Terminal City," the developed area that covered all of the tracks in the terminal. Zega p. 75.

    Swann Auction Galleries
  • CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. Circa 1929. 40½x26¾ inches, 102¾x68 cm. Lath
    Nov. 23, 2021

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986). NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. Circa 1929. 40½x26¾ inches, 102¾x68 cm. Lath

    Est: $8,000 - $12,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986) NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. Circa 1929. 40 1/2x26 3/4 inches, 102 3/4x68 cm. Latham Litho & ptg co., Long Island City. Condition A-: minor repaired tears and pin holes in margins; repaired tear in upper left image; minor creases in margins and image. Framed. California-born Bonestell "was an American pioneer of space art who helped popularize manned space travel. He is well known for his cover art for science fiction magazines . . . as well as many books such as The Conquest of Space, The Exploration of Mars, and Beyond the Solar System" (https://www.bonestell.org/). In the 1920s, he lived in New York, and helped design some of the iconic Art Deco facades and architectural elements for the Chrysler building, the New York Central Building, and many office and apartment buildings around the city. He also collaborated on the designs for the Plymouth Rock Memorial, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and various state capitols. It is not too surprising then, that he could render this mesmerizing and dramatic nighttime view down Park Avenue of the New York Central Building, a modern ziggurat, in all its glory. Construction on the building began in 1927 and was completed in 1929, at which point it was the tallest building in "Terminal City," the developed area that covered all of the tracks below in the terminal. Zega p. 75.

    Swann Auction Galleries
  • Chesley Knight Bonestell (1888-1986) Queen of Sheba 14 1/2 x 9 3/8in (36.8 x 23.8cm)
    Nov. 24, 2020

    Chesley Knight Bonestell (1888-1986) Queen of Sheba 14 1/2 x 9 3/8in (36.8 x 23.8cm)

    Est: $2,000 - $3,000

    Chesley Knight Bonestell (1888-1986) Queen of Sheba signed 'Chesley Bonestell' (lower right) oil and graphite on drafting paper 14 1/2 x 9 3/8in (36.8 x 23.8cm) For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website

    Bonhams
  • Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986). NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. Circa 1929.
    Oct. 15, 2020

    Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986). NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. Circa 1929.

    Est: $6,000 - $9,000

    CHESLEY BONESTELL (1888-1986) NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING / AT THE GATEWAY TO A CONTINENT. Circa 1929. 41x27 inches, 104x68 1/2 cm. Latham Litho & ptg co., Long Island City. Condition B / B+: partially-replaced margins; extensive expert-overpainting in margins and lower text; creases and restoration in image. California-born Bonestell "was an American pioneer of space art who helped popularize manned space travel. He is well known for his cover art for science fiction magazines . . . as well as many books such as The Conquest of Space, The Exploration of Mars, and Beyond the Solar System" (https://www.bonestell.org/). In the 1920s, he lived in New York, and helped design some of the iconic Art Deco facades and architectural elements for the Chrysler building, the New York Central Building, and many office and apartment buildings around the city. He also collaborated on the designs for the Plymouth Rock Memorial, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and various state capitols. It is not too surprising then, that he could render this mesmerizing and dramatic nighttime view down Park Avenue of the New York Central Building, a modern ziggurat, in all it's glory. Construction on the building began in 1927 and was completed in 1929, at which point it was the tallest building in "Terminal City," the developed area that covered all of the tracks below in the terminal. Zega p. 75.

    Swann Auction Galleries
  • Chesley Bonestell, Lilies and Ducks, 1960s.
    Jan. 25, 2020

    Chesley Bonestell, Lilies and Ducks, 1960s.

    Est: $4,000 - $6,000

    Bonestell, Chesley Knight, (American, 1888-1986). Landscape depicting a pond with mallard ducks and water lilies. 1960s. Oil on shade cloth. Signed l.l. 27" x 37. Condition: Few areas of wear and creasing. Provenance: Requires third party professional art handlers or shippers for transportation, we will provide a list of preferred shippers.

    Quinn's Auction Galleries
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