Kodak Vest Pocket Series III (Vanity)
The Kodak Vest Pocket Series III (Vanity) is a compact folding roll-film camera from Kodak's Vest Pocket line, a range of pocketable bellows cameras introduced in the early twentieth century. The Vanity variant was finished in coloured enamel and leatherette, marketed in the 1920s as a decorative alternative to standard black-finish folders.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Vest Pocket Series III Vanity have ranged from £110 to £340, with the two recorded sales straddling that spread. Condition of the coloured covering drives value heavily in today's market — examples with intact, unfaded leatherette and a working shutter sell for considerably more than worn bodies, and the Vanity finish itself is what the model sells for a premium over plain Series III cameras.
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: October 2025
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| Oct 2025 | £106 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 199) Title: A Kodak Vanity Kodak Vest Pocket Series III Camera
Description:
1928-33, red, with Kodak Anastigmat f/6.3 83mm lens, serial no. 29160, body VG, lens G, some internal haze. |
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| Jun 2022 | £338 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 656) Title: Three Kodak Vest Pocket Series III Vanity Cameras
Description:
to include a red example, body VG, shutter working, optics F, some haze & light fungus present, with matching red makers case, together with a (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2021 | £81 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras, Scientific & Collectables (Lot 683) Title: A Kodak Vest Pocket Series III Vanity
Description:
blue, with Kodak Anastigmat f/6.3 83mm lens, body, F-G, shutter working, lens, G, some internal haze, in maker's blue box |
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| Apr 2019 | £120 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 331) Title: A Kodak Vanity Vest Pocket Series III Camera
Description:
1926-33, blue, serial no. 33028, with Anastigmat f/6.3 83mm lens, body, VG, some minor damage to back, lens, VG, complete with maker's presentation |
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| Nov 2018 | £204 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1239) Title: A Kodak Vanity Kodak Vest Pocket Series III Camera
Description:
1928-33, red, with Kodak Anastigmat f/6.3 83mm lens, serial no. 43637, body, VG, lens, VG, some light internal haze |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Kodak Vest Pocket Series III Vanity worth today?
Recorded UK auction hammer prices sit between roughly £110 and £340, so the value of a given example depends heavily on the condition of its coloured covering and shutter.
How much does a Vest Pocket Series III Vanity sell for compared with a standard Series III?
The Vanity finish commands a premium over plain black Series III folders because the coloured enamel and leatherette were produced in smaller numbers and are collected for their decorative appeal.
Is the Vest Pocket Series III Vanity usable today?
It can be used if the bellows are light-tight and the shutter fires accurately, but the original roll-film format and the fragility of the covering mean most buyers treat it as a display piece.