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Contessa Sonnet Tropen (Tropical) (4.5x6, Vest Pocket)

The Contessa Sonnet Tropen is a tropical-finish folding plate camera from the early 20th century, taking 4.5x6 cm exposures in a vest pocket format. Tropical (Tropen) variants were finished with teak or polished wood and brown leather bellows, intended for use in hot, humid climates.

With only a single recorded UK auction result in our database — a hammer price of £500 in 2011 — there is no meaningful range or median to quote for what a Sonnet Tropen is worth today. Tropical folders of this era are condition-sensitive at saleroom level, and value depends heavily on bellows integrity, wood condition, and completeness of the original lens and shutter.

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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: July 2025

Date Price Source
Jul 2025 £151 Chiswick Auctions
Nov 2016 EUR 650 Leitz Auction
May 2011 EUR 500 Leitz Auction
May 2010 EUR 850 Leitz Auction
Jun 2008 EUR 900 Leitz Auction
Nov 1998 £276 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Contessa Sonnet Tropen worth today?

Auction data is extremely thin — a single UK hammer result of £500 was recorded in 2011, so any current price estimate would be speculative without further sales evidence.

How much does a Sonnet Tropen sell for at auction?

The only verified UK auction sale in our records achieved a £500 hammer price, but one data point is not enough to establish a reliable market value or range.

What makes the Tropen version different?

Tropen (tropical) cameras were built with wood bodies and brown leather bellows for use in hot, humid climates, and surviving examples in good condition tend to attract a premium over standard black-leather versions.

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