Rare and unique cameras go under the hammer in Thatcham
You never know, maybe that old camera you found under the stairs might be worth something after all!
On the 16th April Flints Auctions in Thatcham held their twice yearly Fine Photographica sale, with some 389 lots of rare and unique cameras and lenses going under the hammer. Some items achieved very high prices on the day. Amongst the very special cameras on sale were a number of star lots. First of the star lots was a Leica MP rangefinder camera, manufactured in Germany in the 1950s. The camera sold on the day for £46,250 inclusive of commission. This price was for the camera body without a lens. Surprisingly, the camera had recently been purchased by the seller for just 2000 dollars, the camera having originally been found in a “yard sale”. The vendor then brought it over to the U.K. to be sold at auction. The camera was in very good working condition, and is one of approximately 400 made.
There were also rare and unusual lenses on sale, including a British-made Ross Xtralux camera lens, bought at a car-boot sale for the sum of £2, sold for £17,500 inclusive of commission!
Flints were very pleased with the results on the day, and are now consigning items for the next Fine Photographica sale in the autumn. Flints Auctions is a local auctioneers in Thatcham that specialises in cameras and scientific instruments with sales approximately every month.
