Kodak Bantam Special Camera
The Kodak Bantam Special is a folding strut-type camera for 828 roll film, introduced in the late 1930s. It was positioned at the top of Kodak's Bantam range, with an enamelled black and aluminium Art Deco body styled by Walter Dorwin Teague.
With only one recorded UK auction hammer result in our data — £119 in late 2023 — the price guide for the Bantam Special is indicative rather than firm, and condition of the bellows, shutter and enamel finish drives what a clean example sells for at saleroom level today. Buyers should treat that £119 figure as a single data point rather than a settled market value, since cosmetically clean cameras with a working shutter can command more.
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 2023 | £119 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 217) Title: * A Kodak Bantam Special Camera
Description:
1936-48, black, with Kodak Ektar f/2 45mm lens, black, serial no. 12731, body, G, shutter working, lens, F, shutter requires attention and some |
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| Sep 2023 | £275 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 155) Title: A Kodak Bantam Special Folding Rangefinder Camera
Description:
black, 1936-40, with a Kodak Anastigmat Ektar f/2 45mm, serial no.6099, Compur Rapid shutter sluggish on slow speeds, body G, lens F-G, haze, |
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| Jan 2022 | £174 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 324) Title: A Kodak Bantam Special Rangefinder Camera
Description:
black, body G-VG, shutter working but slow speeds are much too fast, with Kodak Ektar 45mm f/2 lens, optics F, haze and fungus present, (Qty: 1) |
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| Apr 2021 | £161 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 266) Title: A Kodak Bantam Special Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1936-48, black, serial no. 5350099, with Kodak Ektar f/2 45mm lens, black, serial no. 11141, body, G, some marks to rear, lens, VG, shutter working |
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| Nov 2013 | EUR 420 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 24 (Lot AI_24_29112) Title: Kodak Bantam Special
Description:
near mint Bantam Special with Ektar 2/45 no.15221 in Compur-Rapid shutter (separation), maker's box Estimate: EUR 350 - EUR 450 |
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| Dec 2010 | EUR 240 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 18 (Lot AI_18_12229) Title: Kodak Bantam Special
Description:
art-deco camera in good condition with Ektar 2/45mm no.19349 in Compur-Rapid shutter, case Estimate: EUR 300 - EUR 400 |
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| Sep 2005 | £144 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 322) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 9689
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 9689 Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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| Sep 2004 | £167 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 348) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 21806
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 21806 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Mar 2003 | £58 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 395) Title: Kodak Bantam Special camera
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special camera Estimate: £25 - £100 |
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| Sep 2002 | £176 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 295) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 5447
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 5447 Estimate: £250 - £350 |
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| Nov 1998 | £195 | Christie's | |
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Auction: KOSLOV COLLECTION OF CAMERAS AND SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (Lot 77) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 1958
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 1958 Estimate: £25 - £100 |
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| Sep 1998 | £207 | Christie's | |
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Auction: COLLECTABLE CAMERAS FROM CLASSIC COLLECTION (Lot 155) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 21540
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 21540 Estimate: £20 - £300 |
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| Sep 1998 | £149 | Christie's | |
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Auction: COLLECTABLE CAMERAS FROM CLASSIC COLLECTION (Lot 156) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 22511
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 22511 Estimate: £20 - £300 |
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| Aug 1998 | £149 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 155) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 9889
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 9889 Estimate: £25 - £100 |
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| Aug 1998 | £57 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 154) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 24243
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 24243 Estimate: £20 - £150 |
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| Mar 1998 | £172 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 204) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 23633
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 23633 Estimate: £150 - £250 |
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| Mar 1998 | £299 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 201) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 26635
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 26635 Estimate: £250 - £350 |
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| Jan 1998 | £218 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 399) Title: Kodak Bantam Special no. 22652
Description:
Kodak Bantam Special no. 22652 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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