Dallmeyer (J.H.) Stereo (sliding box, wet plates) Universal
The J.H. Dallmeyer Stereo Universal is a 19th-century sliding-box stereo camera built for wet collodion plates, a format that placed it firmly in the studio and field photography of the Victorian era. As a wet-plate stereo instrument from a London optical maker, it sat at the higher end of professional equipment when new.
Sales history for this Dallmeyer is thin and confined to specialist auctions: a hammer price of £5,875 was recorded at Christie's in 2002, and £9,500 at a Leitz-related sale in 2016, giving an indicative auction range of roughly £5,900–£9,500. These are UK saleroom hammer results — wholesale levels, not retail asking prices — and as of today values for early Dallmeyer stereo apparatus remain heavily condition- and provenance-driven, with completeness of the original lens pair, plate holders and box being the principal price drivers.
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.
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Nov 2025 | £9,000 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 471) Title: A Fine J. H. Dallmeyer Stereo Wet Plate Sliding Box Camera
Description:
1855-, 7¼x4½", serial no. 268, with a pair of J. H. Dallmeyer Waterhouse stop brass lenses, serial nos. 5015/5016, body, VG, lenses, VG-E, complete |
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| Nov 2024 | £3,625 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 328) Title: A J. H. Dallmeyer Stere Wetplate Mahogany & Brass Camera
Description:
English, c.1863*, with label for 'J. H . Dallmeyer, Optician, London' , camera numbered 201, constructed of French polished mahogany, with all |
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| May 2023 | £4,000 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 310) Title: A Fine J. H. Dallmeyer Stereo Sliding Box Wetplate Camera
Description:
1855-, serial no. 1171, the camera constructed of French polished mahogany, with unusual tilting focal screen, rack and pinion focusing, with a pair |
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| Nov 2018 | EUR 13,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 33 (Lot AI_33_36700) Title: Dallmeyer Sliding Box Stereo Camera
Description:
very rare original Dallmeyer stereo sliding-box camera for 11x18cm exposures (Daguerreotypes or wet-plate), with dual Dallmeyer meniscus lenses no.38531 and 38532 for stereo exposures (mounted on lens board stamped with matching number 552), Dallmeyer Petzval lens no.16216 for normal exposures (also mounted on lens board with matching number 552), included in this lot is a matching Dallmeyer table-top stereo viewer from a similar period (height 42cm), both camera and viewer are in beautiful original condition, this is definitely the best early stereo outfit we have ever seen Estimate: EUR 16,000 - EUR 18,000 |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 9,500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 30 (Lot AI_30_34750) Title: Dallmeyer Universal Sliding Box Camera
Description:
rare English Stereo camera in fantastic and original condition for plates 7.5 x 4.5 inches, window-pattern, polished mahogany body, lacquered brass inset binding and fittings, inside stamped '560', with ivory maker's plaque 'J.H.DALLMEYER OPTICAN London.', removable focusing screen, rack and pinion front-focusing inner box with a pair of Dallmeyer Triple Achromatic lenses for water house stops nos.4224 + 4226, a Dallmeyer brass bound Patent lens no.19238 on mahogany lens board, mahogany wet-collodion single dark-slide stamped '560' - for sure the most beautiful example of this historic camera we have ever seen Estimate: EUR 10,000 - EUR 12,000 |
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| May 2010 | EUR 4,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 17 (Lot AI_17_11422) Title: Dallmeyer Universal Schiebekasten Kamera
Description:
rare English Stereo camera for plates 7.5 x 4.5 inches, window-pattern, polished mahogany body, lacquered brass inset binding and fittings, internal removable septum, removable focusing screen (missing), rack and pinion front-focusing inner box with a pair of Gasc & Charconnet rack and pinion Quickacting lenses nos.20662 and 20663 Estimate: EUR 7,000 - EUR 8,000 |
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| May 2009 | EUR 12,500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 15 (Lot AI_15_18809) Title: Dallmeyer Universal Sliding Box Camera
Description:
rare English Stereo camera for plates 7.5 x 4.5 inches, window-pattern, polished mahogany body, lacquered brass inset binding and fittings, internal removable septum, removable focusing screen, rack and pinion front-focusing inner box with a pair of Dallmeyer rack and pinion patent lenses nos.15175 and 15174, mahogany flap shutter, a pair of Dallmeyer brass bound lenses nos.15673 and 15674, a Dallmeyer screen focusing lens in maker's case, three mahogany wet-collodion single dark-slides stamped '1113' - ex Jim Barron collection Estimate: EUR 10,000 - EUR 12,000 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 8,854 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_22487) Title: J. H. Dallmeyer Universal sliding box camera
Description:
7,5 x 4,5 Zoll, für Einzelaufnahmen und Stereopaare auf Nassplatten, politiertes Mahagonigehäuse mit soliden Messingbeschlägen, Zahnstangenfokussierung, Stereo-Klappenverschluss, Einzelobjektiv-Platine mit Dallmeyer-Objektiv, Stereo-Doublet-Objektive von Grubb in Dublin auf Stereoplatine, passende Kassette und Mattscheibenteil; diese ästhetische Kamera zeugt von der überlegenen Kameratischlerarbeit in England zur Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts Estimate: EUR 1,868 - EUR 4 |
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| Dec 2002 | £5,875 | Christie's | |
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Auction: THE BRITISH CAMERA 1840-1960 THE JIM BARRON COLLECTION (Lot 130) Title: Universal sliding box camera no. 1113
Description:
Universal sliding box camera no. 1113 Estimate: £5,000 - £8,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Dallmeyer Stereo Universal sliding-box wet-plate camera worth today?
Based on two recorded UK auction hammer results, examples have sold for £5,875 and £9,500, so the indicative value is in the region of £5,900–£9,500 depending on completeness and condition.
How much does a Dallmeyer wet-plate stereo camera sell for at auction?
At UK saleroom level, recorded hammer prices for this Dallmeyer stereo model sit between roughly £5,900 and £9,500, with the higher figure achieved in 2016.
What drives the price of a 19th-century Dallmeyer stereo camera?
Originality and completeness drive value: a matched pair of original Dallmeyer lenses, intact wet-plate holders, sound mahogany woodwork and documented provenance push prices toward the upper end of the observed range.