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Contessa Duchessa Stereo

The Contessa Duchessa Stereo is a small-format stereo camera produced by Contessa-Nettel in Stuttgart in the early twentieth century, before the firm's 1926 merger into Zeiss Ikon. It was designed to expose paired images on plates so that the resulting transparencies could be viewed through a stereo viewer.

At UK auction, hammer prices for the Duchessa Stereo have ranged from about £150 to £350, with a median near £260 based on the three recorded sales. Today the model trades thinly, so what a Duchessa Stereo is worth at saleroom level depends heavily on completeness and cosmetic condition, and a clean, fully-functional example will sell for noticeably more than one with worn bellows or missing parts.

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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 2018

Date Price Source
Nov 2018 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
Mar 2014 EUR 400 Leitz Auction
May 2007 EUR 260 Leitz Auction
Nov 2003 EUR 350 Leitz Auction
Jul 2000 £152 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Contessa Duchessa Stereo worth today?

Recorded UK auction hammer results sit between roughly £150 and £350, with a median around £260; retail dealer asking prices are typically higher.

How much does a Contessa Duchessa Stereo sell for at auction?

Three tracked sales show a price range of about £150 to £350, reflecting differences in condition and completeness rather than a single market value.

Is the Duchessa Stereo rare?

It appears infrequently in UK salerooms, with only a handful of tracked sales over more than two decades, so opportunities to buy one are limited.

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