The Bourne/Doré engravings are so impressive that most collectors think they are worth tons of money. They aren't. The question, though, is what are they worth for insurance purposes?

(Please note: except for the prices shown in my gallery of known Bourne engravings, I have no private knowledge about the values of Doré engravings. I apologize, but my knowledge is too limited to give any advice on insurance or valuation. If YOU have any knowledge about actual sales prices, please tell me your source, and if possible, I will try to confirm. Then I will post on this site and share with people like you. Prices stated in auction catalogs, however, are non-useful. Offering prices and minimum opening auction bids are merely wishes and predictions. The only information that counts are prices realized. Thanks.)

I frequently receive inquiries about valuing and insuring the large Doré engravings. The engravings were prepared for the Fairless-Beeforth Doré Gallery in London, seemingly in the late 1870s and early 1880s. As best I can tell, all were signed in pencil by both Doré and Bourne. (See examples.)

I have no idea how many prints were prepared, printed, or sold. The number that survive is probably fairly small, but again, I have never seen any educated census.

Doré-Bourne prints appear for sale infrequently, possibly only a handful each year. Nonetheless, there should be some pricing history, which is exactly what you will need for your insurer.

Several of the Bourne/Doré engravings have appeared for sale on eBay in the last few years, but sales have been difficult to typify. Sellers sometimes offered the prints at such outrageously high starting prices that they received no bids. Sometimes the items had serious condition problems and were therefore not very desirable. Having said that, be aware that condition problems are normal and to be expected simply because preserving large pieces of paper for 130 years is rather difficult.

The upshot is that I have no way of estimating value with any reliability.

I do, however, share your concern over value and insurance. So my suggestions are to:

1) Get a decent photograph of your print. Aphoto from your cell phone will not be adequate. Examine your print very carefully so you can describe every flaw.

2) Find a REPUTABLE and experienced art consultant who has subscriptions to all the major art auction records. This is crucial.

I have seen several references to the large format Doré prints in several art auctions but all price results are locked behind subscriptions. The subscriptions are expensive, so only the most profitable of professional art consultants can afford them. You may need to look to the major cities for consultants of such stature. (I certainly cannot afford them.)

3) Have your art consultant give you summaries of prices paid for all the large Doré engravings and the dates of the sales. You MUST stress to your consultant that:

• you need prices for the engravings and NOT Doré's paintings. Prices for the engravings are fractions of the amounts paid for the paintings.
• you need to learn "prices realized", NOT simply price estimates.
• need prices for insurance prices, NOT sale or purchase.
• you expect to pay for your consultant's efforts; you understand that their time is not free

You may not be able to find reliable prices for your specific engraving, so make sure your consultant researches prices for any of the Bourne/Doré engravings in the series, including:

• Christ Leaving the Praetorium
• Christian Martyrs in the Coliseum
• Moses Before Pharaoh
• Night of the Crucifixion
• Slaying of The Innocents
• Soldiers of the Cross
• Triumph of Christianity over Paganism

I have found very occasional and questionable references to two other large format prints possibly engraved by Bourne. The references are too spotty and inconsistent to know for sure.

• Andromeda (Chained to the Rocks)
• La Vigne

4) As long as your art consultant can compile two or three comparable prices, you ought to be able to safely insure your print. If your item is framed, be sure to account for the frame's replacement value.