Compagnie Francaise de Photographie Photosphere 1 (8x9)
The Compagnie Francaise de Photographie Photosphere 1 is a French-made antique camera built for 8x9 cm plates. As an early plate-format instrument, it sits firmly in the collector category rather than the user-camera market.
Auction evidence for the Photosphere 1 (8x9) is thin: a single recorded UK saleroom hammer result of £920 (Christie's, 1999) anchors what is known about its value today, with no recent comparables to refine the price. Because the dataset is limited to one historic sale, current worth is best treated as indicative, and what the camera sells for now will depend heavily on completeness and condition when an example next surfaces.
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: June 2023
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Jun 2023 | EUR 2,800 | £2,404 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 42 (Lot AI_20220121_1128_41185) Title: Compagnie Française de Photographie Le Photosphere
Description:
The Photosphère was designed by Napoléon Conti in the 1880s as a robust and lightweight camera which could resist weather conditions in tropical countries. The example offered is a very rare small 8x9cm version, in very good original and working condition, it is complete with original lens, attached finder, and matching plate magazine. This particular example is equipped with solid metal tabs on the base plate, allowing the camera to be mounted on a bicycle (using a special mount that was available separately). Estimate: EUR 3,000 - EUR 3,400 |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 1,200 | £1,043 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 30 (Lot AI_30_34760) Title: Compagnie Francaise de Photographie Le Photosphere
Description:
very rare small 8x9cm version, one of the first all-metal cameras in good original and working condition, original lens, attached original finder, with matching film holder Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 1,300 | £1,130 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 29 (Lot AI_29_33434) Title: Compagnie Francaise de Photographie Le Photosphere
Description:
very rare small 8x9cm version, one of the first all-metal cameras in good original and working condition, original lens, attached original finder, with three matching film holder Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,400 |
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| Jan 1999 | £920 | £800 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras, The Property of a Collector (Lot 217) Title: Photosphere no. 1304
Description:
Photosphere no. 1304 Estimate: £800 - £1,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Compagnie Francaise de Photographie Photosphere 1 (8x9) worth?
Based on the limited auction record available, a price around £920 has been achieved at hammer, though with only one data point the true market value in 2026 is uncertain and condition-dependent.
How much does a Photosphere 1 (8x9) sell for at auction?
The only verified UK auction sale on file is £920 hammer at Christie's, so any current sale price would need to be benchmarked against that historic result rather than a broad recent range.
Is the Photosphere 1 (8x9) a collector item?
Yes — it is an antique French plate camera and its value is driven by collector demand for early photographic apparatus rather than any practical photographic use.