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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 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: November 2023

Date Price Value GBP Source
Nov 2023 £500 £400 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2022 EUR 900 £782 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 EUR 700 £608 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 EUR 600 £521 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2021 EUR 450 £382 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2021 USD 500 £371 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin
May 2020 £306 £250 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Jun 2019 EUR 700 £624 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Apr 2019 £348 £290 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Apr 2016 £270 £270 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive)
Nov 2015 EUR 400 £283 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Oct 2015 £180 £180 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive)
May 2012 EUR 240 £193 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2012 EUR 500 £402 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2011 EUR 400 £351 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2011 EUR 700 £615 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2009 EUR 600 £531 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2008 EUR 1,100 £871 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Sep 2005 £576 £480 🇬🇧 Christie's
Nov 1999 £690 £600 🇬🇧 Christie's
Mar 1999 £299 £260 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jan 1999 £460 £400 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jan 1999 £345 £300 🇬🇧 Christie's
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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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