Compagnie Francaise de Photographie Photosphere 1 (13x18)
The Photosphere 1 is a late 19th-century French detective camera produced by Compagnie Francaise de Photographie, taking 13x18cm plates. It is notable for its hemispherical lens housing and spring-driven sector shutter, a distinctive design within the early plate-camera market.
With only a single recorded UK auction result in our dataset — a £5,208 hammer price from 2003 — the Photosphere 1 (13x18) sits firmly in the specialist collector tier rather than the general user market. Today it is rarely offered, and the limited evidence suggests four-figure values at saleroom level when an example does appear, though a single historic data point cannot define a reliable current price band. Buyers researching what one is worth or how much it sells for should treat the figure as indicative only and watch for fresh comparable sales.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2015 | EUR 3,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 27 (Lot AI_27_32205) Title: Compagnie Francaise de Photographie Photosphere 13x18cm
Description:
very rare Photosphere for 13x18cm, all metal housing in very good original condition, shutter in form of hemisphere, two integrated finders, Krauss Paris Anastigmat-Zeiss 8/167mm no.18966, inclusive ground glass and two matching film holders Estimate: EUR 6,000 - EUR 7,000 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 5,208 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_22452) Title: Cie Francaise de Photographie Photosphere
Description:
13x18cm, Metallgehäuse, mit integriertem Sucher, Rectilinear 1:8 f=18cm in halbkugeligem Mehrzeiten-Schwenkverschluss, die seltene große Ausführung der Photosphere mit eingebauten Suchern Estimate: EUR 18,880 - EUR 4 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Photosphere 1 (13x18) worth today?
The only verified UK auction record in our data is a £5,208 hammer price, so a complete and original example is a four-figure collector item, but the thin sales history means current value should be reconfirmed against any recent comparable lot.
How much does a Photosphere 1 (13x18) sell for at auction?
On the single recorded sale it achieved £5,208 at hammer, excluding buyer's and seller's premium; price in any future sale will depend heavily on completeness, shutter function and originality of the lens sphere.
Is the Photosphere 1 a usable camera or a collector piece?
It is overwhelmingly a collector and display piece — 13x18cm plate materials are not readily available and the mechanism is fragile, so the value sits in originality rather than shooting capability.