CameraWorth.com

Bloch Photo-Cravate

The Bloch Photo-Cravate is a late-19th-century detective camera designed to be concealed behind a necktie, with the lens peeking through a small aperture in the cravat. It was patented in the 1890s by Edmond Bloch in France and sold as a novelty disguise camera for discreet exposures on small circular plates.

At UK auction the Photo-Cravate is a rarity, with hammer prices in the recorded sales ranging from roughly £7,600 to £14,000 and a midpoint near £11,000 — wholesale saleroom levels, not retail. Results are highly condition- and completeness-sensitive, and as of today the small sample size means any single example can sell well outside that band depending on whether the original cravat, plates and case are present.

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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.

Prices updated: June 2019

Date Price Source
Jun 2019 EUR 5,000 Leitz Auction
May 2007 EUR 14,000 Leitz Auction
May 2006 EUR 21,500 Leitz Auction
Nov 2004 EUR 10,417 Leitz Auction
Feb 2002 £4,465 Christie's
May 2000 £7,637 Christie's
May 1999 £9,200 Christie's
Nov 1998 £8,625 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Bloch Photo-Cravate worth today?

Recorded UK and international auction hammer results sit between about £7,600 and £14,000, so a complete example would currently be expected to sell for a price in that region.

How much does a Bloch Photo-Cravate sell for at auction?

The two recorded sales are £7,637 in 2000 and £14,000 in 2007, giving a median around £10,800 at hammer, before any buyer's premium.

Why does the Photo-Cravate command such a high price?

It is a scarce 19th-century disguise camera with strong collector demand, and its value reflects rarity and historical interest rather than photographic utility.

Other Bloch cameras