Blair Cameraco. Hawk-Eye Detective Camera
The Blair Camera Co. Hawk-Eye Detective Camera is a 19th-century wooden box-form plate camera, sold in the era when "detective" cameras were marketed for discreet, hand-held use rather than tripod work. It sits among early American amateur cameras from the late Victorian period, before roll-film designs displaced plate-holder boxes.
Sales data for this Blair Hawk-Eye Detective Camera is extremely thin: a single UK auction hammer result of £50 in January 2024 is the only verified data point on file as of today. With one sale, there is no meaningful range or median to quote, and what a Hawk-Eye Detective Camera sells for at saleroom level in 2026 will hinge heavily on completeness, the state of the wood and leather covering, and whether plate holders are present. Buyers should treat that £50 figure as indicative only, not as a reliable market value.
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Prices updated: January 2024
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Jan 2024 | £50 | £40 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographs & Optical Toys (Lot 167) Title: A Blair Camera Co. Hawk-Eye 4x5 Detective Camera
Description:
1895, wood, serial no. 204, with an internal lens, body G, some areas of light wear, shutter working, lens optics G, some haze & cleaning marks (Qty: 1) |
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| Oct 2005 | £100 | £100 | 🇬🇧 Bonhams | |
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Auction: The Tobias Camera & Magic Lantern Collection (Lot 138) Title: Hawk-Eye Detective camera box form polished wood plate camera by Blair Camera Co.
Description:
Box form polished wood plate camera by Blair Camera Co (after Boston Camera Co.) first model circa 1893 with front release internal viewing screen and two double dark slides with an Adlake Hand Camera by The Adams & Westlake Co. Chicago, circa 1897 box form for 4 x 5 inch pictures stored in the camera, but inserted in turn manually and opened in the closed camera by an external lever, eleven holders. (16) Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Sep 1999 | £115 | £100 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras and Optical Toys (Lot 283) Title: Hawk-Eye detective camera no. 170
Description:
Hawk-Eye detective camera no. 170 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Blair Hawk-Eye Detective Camera worth?
Only one UK auction hammer sale is on record, at £50 in January 2024, so a firm market value cannot be quoted; price will depend almost entirely on condition and completeness.
How much does a Blair Hawk-Eye Detective Camera sell for at auction?
The single recorded UK auction result is £50 hammer, but with such limited data the realistic price range for any individual example is uncertain.
Is the Blair Hawk-Eye Detective Camera a usable camera today?
It is generally collected as a display piece rather than used; plate holders, fresh sensitised plates and a working shutter would all be needed to shoot with it.