Kiev John Player (Kiev 303)
The John Player (Kiev 303) is a novelty subminiature camera housed in a replica cigarette packet, produced in the former Soviet Union and based on the Kiev 303 mechanism. It was sold as a curiosity and gift item rather than a serious photographic tool, with the disguised-camera body being the primary attraction for collectors today.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for this novelty Kiev have ranged from £350 to £850, with the two recorded results sitting either side of a roughly £600 midpoint — so what a John Player (Kiev 303) is worth in 2026 depends heavily on packaging condition and completeness. Because these are wholesale saleroom results rather than dealer retail, clean examples with an intact cigarette-packet shell typically sell for more, while loose or tired bodies pull the price toward the lower 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: November 2024
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Nov 2024 | £350 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 288) Title: A Kiev Arsenal John Player Cigarette 'Spy' Camera
Description:
1960s, black, body, VG, shutter working, lens, G-VG, some internal haze |
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| Nov 2023 | £500 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 174) Title: A Kiev Arsenal John Player Cigarette 'Spy' Camera
Description:
1960s, black, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, complete with repro box and with original paperwork |
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| May 2023 | £850 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 235) Title: A Kiev Arsenal John Player Cigarette 'Spy' Camera
Description:
1960s, black, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, complete with maker's box with original paperwork |
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| Nov 2020 | £397 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 234) Title: A Kiev Arsenal John Player Cigarette 'Spy' Camera
Description:
1960s, black, body, G, shutter working, lens, VG Note: Early variation |
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| Nov 2020 | £273 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 235) Title: A Kiev Arsenal John Player Cigarette 'Spy' Camera
Description:
1960s, black, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, complete with maker's box Note: Late variation |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a John Player (Kiev 303) worth today?
Recent UK auction hammer prices sit between £350 and £850, so a realistic value for a complete, working example falls within that range depending on the condition of the cigarette-packet shell.
How much does a John Player (Kiev 303) sell for at auction?
The two most recent UK auction sales recorded were £350 in late 2024 and £850 in 2023, showing that price is strongly condition-dependent.
Why is the price range so wide?
The novelty cigarette-packet housing is fragile printed card, so examples with clean, undamaged packaging sell for a significant premium over loose or worn bodies.