Adams Idento
The Adams Idento is a British-made folding plate camera produced by Adams & Co. of London, an early twentieth-century maker known for hand-built precision cameras aimed at the professional and serious amateur market. It was offered as a compact strut-folding design taking glass plates, positioned at the upper end of the British camera trade when new.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Adams Idento have ranged from about £140 to £210, with a median around £160. Values today are condition-sensitive: examples with intact bellows, a working shutter and the original lens tend to sell for more, while incomplete or distressed bodies fetch the lower end of the range at saleroom level.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Jan 2024 | £138 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 316) Title: An Adams Idento Folding Strut Camera
Description:
balck, body G, shutter working, optics G-VG, together with two DDS, both DDS require attention, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2022 | £162 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 660) Title: An Adams Idento Folding Strut Camera
Description:
black, body G-VG, shutter working, optics F-G, some haze & fungus present, with a DDS, another back, & maker's case, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2021 | £211 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras, Scientific & Collectables (Lot 674) Title: An Adams Idento Folding Strut Camera
Description:
with Ross Zeiss Patent f/6.3 14" lens, body, F-G, shutter not working, lens, VG, complete with Adams focal plane shutter with self-errecting bellows |
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| Nov 2003 | £258 | Christie's | |
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Auction: MAGIC LANTERNS, CINE CAMERAS AND CAMERAS (Lot 794) Title: Idento hand camera no. 2401
Description:
Idento hand camera no. 2401 Estimate: £25 - £100 |
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| Aug 1998 | £115 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 399) Title: Idento no. 2287
Description:
Idento no. 2287 Estimate: £20 - £150 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Adams Idento worth today?
Based on UK auction hammer results from 2021 to 2024, an Adams Idento is typically worth between £140 and £210, with a median price around £160.
How much does an Adams Idento sell for at auction?
Recent hammer prices have clustered in the £140–£210 range, with cleaner, more complete examples sitting at the upper end of that band.
What affects the value of an Adams Idento?
Condition of the bellows, shutter function and the presence of original plate holders are the main factors that influence the price an Idento sells for.