Contessa Nettix (Ladies Handbag)
The Contessa Nettix "Ladies Handbag" is an early plate camera produced in Germany, built into a handbag-style housing aimed at discreet use. It dates from the early twentieth century, before Contessa-Nettel's 1926 absorption into Zeiss Ikon, and was a niche detective-style product rather than a mainstream amateur camera.
With only a single hammer result on file at UK auction, the price evidence is thin: one example sold for £1,300 in 2016. As of today that figure is the only verifiable saleroom benchmark for what this camera is worth, and any current value would depend heavily on completeness of the handbag housing and condition of the optics.
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 2016
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2016 | EUR 1,300 | £1,130 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 29 (Lot AI_29_33934) Title: Contessa Nettel Nettix Detective Camera
Description:
quite rare 4.5x6cm plate camera with Piccar 11/7.5cm lens, built into a small Ladies Handbag with brown leather, brass fittings and blue velvet inlet, one handle works as cable release, the camera shoots through the front of the case, hidden by a metal door Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
Frequently asked questions
What is a Contessa Nettix Ladies Handbag camera worth today?
The only logged UK auction hammer price is £1,300, so that single result is the best available guide to value, with condition and completeness of the handbag housing the main variables.
How much does a Contessa Nettix Ladies Handbag sell for at auction?
Evidence is limited to one recorded sale at £1,300 hammer, and the price a given example sells for will vary with originality of the leather case and working condition of the shutter and lens.
Why is the price data so limited?
The Nettix Ladies Handbag was a low-production novelty camera, so it appears in UK salerooms only rarely, which is why published price and value information is sparse.