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Kunik Petie Lighter

The Kunik Petie Lighter is a subminiature novelty camera built into a cigarette-lighter-style housing, a format produced for the curio and gadget market rather than for serious photography. It belongs to the small group of disguised or combination cameras that collectors group with subminiature and spy-style cameras.

Auction evidence for the Petie Lighter is thin, with a single recorded UK saleroom result of £1,527 at Christie's in 2001 — a hammer price that reflects wholesale auction level rather than retail. On that limited basis the camera sells for a four-figure sum when it surfaces today, but with only one data point any current value should be treated as indicative rather than a reliable market price.

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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 2023

Date Price Source
Nov 2023 £1,625 Flints Auctions
Apr 2021 £843 Flints Auctions
Nov 2012 EUR 1,400 Leitz Auction
Sep 2005 £720 Christie's
Sep 2003 £376 Christie's
May 2001 £1,527 Christie's
Aug 1998 £552 Christie's
Jan 1998 £747 Christie's
Jan 1998 £747 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Kunik Petie Lighter worth today?

On the only recorded UK auction sale, a Petie Lighter achieved a hammer price of £1,527, so a complete example is worth a similar four-figure sum, though one result is not enough to fix a firm market value in 2026.

How much does a Kunik Petie Lighter sell for at auction?

The single Christie's hammer result on file is £1,527, which is the best available reference for the price this novelty subminiature has sold for in the UK saleroom.

Why is the Petie Lighter collectable?

It is a disguised subminiature camera built into a cigarette-lighter form factor, and its scarcity and curio appeal — rather than photographic performance — drive its value.

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