Ica Atom (53, horizontal)
The Ica Atom (53, horizontal) is an early 20th-century German folding plate camera in the horizontal 4.5×6 cm format. Ica was a Dresden-based manufacturer that became part of Zeiss Ikon in 1926, placing this model within the pre-merger Ica lineage.
UK auction hammer results for the Atom (53, horizontal) are thin and condition-dependent, with recorded sales ranging from £75 to £280 on a median of roughly £180. Because these are saleroom hammer prices rather than dealer retail, what the camera is worth to a collector today in 2026 can differ notably from what it sells for at auction, and clean, fully-working examples tend to command the upper end of that range.
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: April 2025
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Apr 2025 | £75 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 292) Title: An ICA Atom Horizontal Format Folding Camera
Description:
black, body F-G, viewfinder not closing properly, bellows opens and closes, shutter jammed. |
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| Nov 2018 | EUR 280 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 33 (Lot AI_33_36502) Title: Ica Atom
Description:
uncommon horizontal version (with special folding viewfinder built into the bed for vertical exposures), fine original condition, Tessar 4.5/6.5cm no.174167 Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 500 |
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| Feb 2002 | £152 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 437) Title: Atom camera no. H2416
Description:
Atom camera no. H2416 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Ica Atom (53, horizontal) worth today?
Based on UK auction hammer prices, recent examples have sold between £75 and £280, though the small sample size means individual condition drives the price more than any headline figure.
How much does an Ica Atom (53, horizontal) sell for at auction?
Recorded UK hammer prices sit around a £180 median, with tired examples changing hands nearer £75 and cleaner pieces reaching the high £200s.
Is the Ica Atom a good collector's camera?
It appeals primarily to collectors of pre-Zeiss Ikon German folding plate cameras; usability is limited by the 4.5×6 cm plate format and the age-related condition issues common to bellows cameras.