Ilford Advocate
The Ilford Advocate is a British-made 35mm viewfinder camera, recognisable for its cream/ivory enamelled body finish. Introduced in the late 1940s, it was positioned as a distinctive domestic alternative to imported German 35mm compacts of the period.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Ilford Advocate have ranged from around £150 to £400, with a median close to £200 — these are saleroom (wholesale) results and exclude buyer's and seller's premiums. As of 2026, the value an Advocate sells for at auction is strongly tied to cosmetic condition of the cream enamel, which chips and yellows easily, and a clean, fully-working example sits at 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.
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Feb 2026 | £150 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 305) Title: An Ilford Advocate 35mm Camera
Description:
white, body G, shutter needs attention, with Dallmeyer f/4.5 35mm lens, with case. |
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| Sep 2025 | £150 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 404) Title: An Ilford Advocate Camera
Description:
An Ilford Advocate Camera, serial no 1919-7962, shutter sluggish in slow speed, body G, with Dallmeyer Anastigmat 35mm f/3.5 lens, elements G and |
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| Jun 2025 | £200 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 46) Title: An Ilford Advocate 35mm Camera
Description:
cream, body G, shutter needs attention at slow speeds, iris works, viewfinder clear, with instruction booklet. |
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| Apr 2025 | £188 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 185) Title: An Ilford Advocate 35mm Viewfinder Camera
Description:
ivory, serial no. 1919-1700, with Dallmeyer Anastigmat f/4.5 35mm lens, serial no. 359368, body G, shutter working, lens G, some light internal marks (Qty: 1) |
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| Mar 2025 | £403 | Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 125) Title: An Ilford Advocate Viewfinder Camera
Description:
An Ilford Advocate Viewfinder Camera Serial No: 1919-8044 Body: VG Lens: Dallmeyer 35mm f/3.5 Anastigmat (445654) Optics: VG (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2024 | £130 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 175) Title: An Ilford Advocate 35mm Camera
Description:
An Ilford Advocate 35mm Camera, shutter slow to open in slow speed, body G, some paint wear to edges, with Dalllmeyer 35mm f/3.5 Anastigmat lens, |
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| May 2024 | £900 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 182) Title: An Ilford Adcovate Viewfinder Camera
Description:
1953, white with black face, serial no. 1911W-6508, with Wray Lustrar f/3.5 35mm lens, black, serial no. 81249, body, VG-E, lens, VG, some light haze, |
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| Aug 2022 | £175 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 393) Title: An Ilford Advocate 35mm Viewfinder Camera
Description:
white, body G-VG, shutter working but sticks on slow speeds, with Dallmeyer Anastigmat f/3.5 35mm lens, optics F, some fungus present, in carrying (Qty: 1) |
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| Aug 2022 | £125 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 373) Title: An Ilford Advocate 35mm Viewfinder Camera
Description:
white, with Dallmeyer Anastigmat f/4.5 35mm lens, body, G, shutter working, lens, G, some internal haze |
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| May 2020 | £343 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 126) Title: An Ilford Advocate ' Type DK.2798' Camera
Description:
An Ilford Advocate ' Type DK.2798' Camera, 1953, green, with Wray Cine Unilite f/2 25mm lens, serial no. 65749, body, G, lens, F-VG, some coating |
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| Nov 2018 | EUR 200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 33 (Lot AI_33_36586) Title: Ilford Advocate
Description:
cast-metal 35mm viewfinder camera in ivory finish, Dallmeyer Anastigmat 3.5/35mm no.351532, in very good condition, with rare cast-metal film copy device in the same finish, original hood and orange filter Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 500 |
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| Dec 2010 | EUR 200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 18 (Lot AI_18_11612) Title: Ilford Advocate
Description:
cast-metal 35mm viewfinder camera in ivory finish, Dallmeyer Anastigmat 3.5/35mm no.453751, in very good condition, Artisan strap Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 500 |
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