Ica Minimum Palmos (4.5x6, 450/453)
The Ica Minimum Palmos (4.5x6, 450/453) is an early 20th-century German folding strut camera taking 4.5x6 cm plates. It was produced by Ica AG of Dresden, one of the firms that merged into Zeiss Ikon in 1926, placing this model in the pre-merger era of German plate-camera manufacture.
Saleroom data for this model is thin: a single recorded UK auction hammer result from November 2021 sold at £298, which is the only reference point for value as of 2026. With just one data point, that figure should be treated as indicative rather than a reliable median, and what an example sells for today will hinge heavily on cosmetic condition, completeness of the original plate holders, and shutter function.
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 2021
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Nov 2021 | £298 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 279) Title: An ICA Minimum Palmos Folding Strut Camera
Description:
1924-26, 4.5x6cm, serial no. K46497, with Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar f/2.7 80mm lens, black, serial no. 653555, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, some |
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| Nov 2011 | EUR 1,400 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 20 (Lot AI_20_13279) Title: Ica Minimum Palmos
Description:
4.5x6cm, black leather covered body, Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 2.7/8cm no.656976, this was the smallest focal-plane camera produced by Ica (shutter needs repair), in very beautiful condition Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,500 |
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| Feb 2006 | £72 | Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras and Photographic Equipment including the Property of a Photographer (Lot 311) Title: Minimum-Palmos no. J.90447
Description:
Minimum-Palmos no. J.90447 Estimate: £80 - £100 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 688 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_22577) Title: Ica Minimum Palmos
Description:
4.5x6cm, schwarz beledertes Gehäuse, Tessar 2,7/8cm Nr. 647962, es ist dies die kleinste Schlitzverschluss-Kamera von Ica in tollem Zustand Estimate: EUR 1,925 - EUR 39,697 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 365 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_22578) Title: Ica Minimum Palmos
Description:
4.5x6cm, schwarz beledertes Gehäuse, Tessar 4,5/8cm Nr.1111651, Schlitzverschluss (läuft), Rückteil mit Zeiss Ikon Logo Estimate: EUR 1,926 - EUR 70,145 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Ica Minimum Palmos (4.5x6) worth today?
Based on the only recorded UK auction sale, an Ica Minimum Palmos in 4.5x6 format sold for £298 hammer in 2021; with no further comparable results, current value is best estimated around that figure, adjusted for condition.
How much does an Ica Minimum Palmos sell for at auction?
The available sales history shows one example that sold for £298 at UK auction, so the price a given camera achieves will depend strongly on bellows integrity, shutter function and whether plate holders are included.
Is the Ica Minimum Palmos still usable?
It can be used if the bellows are light-tight and the shutter fires accurately, but the 4.5x6 cm plate format requires original holders and either glass plates or cut sheet film loaded into adapters, which limits practical shooting.