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Contessa Deckrullo Nettel Tropen (Tropical)

The Contessa Deckrullo Nettel Tropen (Tropical) is a large-format folding plate camera from the early 20th century, built in a tropical specification with polished teak bodywork and lacquered brass fittings intended for use in humid climates. It uses a focal-plane shutter and was positioned as a premium field camera when new.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Deckrullo Nettel Tropen have ranged from around £350 to £580, with a median near £500 — these are wholesale saleroom results rather than dealer retail. As of 2026, what a Deckrullo Nettel Tropen is worth today remains closely tied to cosmetic condition of the teak and brass, and to whether the original leather bellows and shutter curtain are intact; a tatty example sells for considerably less than a clean one.

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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: November 2023

Date Price Source
Nov 2023 £500 Flints Auctions
Nov 2022 EUR 900 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 EUR 700 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 EUR 600 Leitz Auction
Nov 2021 USD 500 pedia_sales_tamarkin
May 2020 £306 Flints Auctions
Jun 2019 EUR 700 Leitz Auction
Apr 2019 £348 Flints Auctions
Nov 2015 EUR 400 Leitz Auction
May 2012 EUR 240 Leitz Auction
May 2012 EUR 500 Leitz Auction
May 2011 EUR 400 Leitz Auction
May 2011 EUR 700 Leitz Auction
May 2009 EUR 600 Leitz Auction
Jun 2008 EUR 1,100 Leitz Auction
Sep 2005 £576 Christie's
Nov 1999 £690 Christie's
Mar 1999 £299 Christie's
Jan 1999 £345 Christie's
Jan 1999 £460 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Contessa Deckrullo Nettel Tropen worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer results sit between roughly £350 and £580, with a median around £500, so a clean complete example typically sells for about that figure at saleroom level.

How much does a Deckrullo Nettel Tropen Tropical sell for at auction?

Three tracked UK auction sales span £345 to £576, with the most recent 2023 result at £500 — condition of the teak, brass and shutter curtain drives where within that range an individual camera lands.

Why does the Tropical version command a price premium?

The tropical specification uses teak and brass in place of the standard leather-covered metal body, making surviving examples scarcer and more decorative, which supports the value seen in recent sales.

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