Chapman (J.T.) The British
The British is a camera offered under the J.T. Chapman name, a Manchester photographic supplier active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It survives today as a collector-market piece rather than a working tool, and turns up only occasionally in specialist sales.
Documented UK auction evidence for what a J.T. Chapman "The British" is worth is extremely thin: a single hammer result of £207 at Christie's in 1999 is the only sale on record here, and at saleroom level (wholesale, hammer-only) that figure is the closest reference point available today. Because the data set is one transaction more than a quarter-century old, current price, value and what the camera actually sells for in 2026 should be treated as indicative only and confirmed against any fresh comparables before buying.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | £318 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 239) Title: A J. T. Chapman 'The 'British'' Mahogany Quarter Plate Camera
Description:
A J. T. Chapman 'The 'British'' Mahogany Quarter Plate Camera, 1903, with Ross Rapid Symmetrical 8x5" Waterhouse stop brass lens, serial no. 20781, |
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| Nov 2018 | £228 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1334) Title: A J. T. Chapman 'The British' Half Plate Mahogany Field Camera
Description:
1903, with Beck Symmetrical f/8 brass lens, body, VG, lens, VG |
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| Oct 2017 | £960 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 222) Title: A J. T. Chapman 'The British' Quarter Plate Mahogany Field Camera
Description:
1886, with Wray 5x4 Waterhouse stop lens, brass, serial no. 3276, body, VG-E, lens, VG-E, with stops, three DDS and case |
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| Jan 1999 | £207 | Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras, The Property of a Collector (Lot 280) Title: The British hand camera
Description:
The British hand camera Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a J.T. Chapman "The British" camera worth today?
On the only UK auction record available, one example sold for £207 hammer at Christie's; with no recent comparables, that remains the single documented price point and current value should be confirmed against any fresh saleroom results.
How much does a J.T. Chapman "The British" sell for at auction?
The recorded hammer price is £207, achieved at a UK specialist sale; the figure excludes buyer's premium and reflects wholesale auction level rather than a dealer retail price.
Is the J.T. Chapman "The British" a common camera?
No — it appears very rarely in tracked UK sales, which is why pricing it accurately is difficult and why condition and originality have an outsized effect on what any individual example sells for.