Lancaster Instantograph 1/4-plate view
The Lancaster Instantograph is a Victorian-era British plate camera made by J. Lancaster & Son of Birmingham, with the quarter-plate view variant taking 3¼ × 4¼ inch glass negatives. Built around a mahogany body with brass fittings and bellows, it was sold from the late 1880s as an affordable field camera aimed at amateur photographers.
At UK auction in 2026, hammer prices for the quarter-plate Instantograph typically sit in the £40–£180 range, with a median around £150 and most clean, complete examples selling for around £110–£175. One outlier at £725 in 2022 shows what an exceptional cased outfit with original lens and accessories can fetch at saleroom level, but the everyday value of a bare body with worn bellows is closer to 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: October 2025
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| Oct 2025 | £113 | Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 26) Title: A J Lancaster & Son Quarter Plate 1893 Instantograph Field Camera
Description:
A J Lancaster & Son Quarter Plate 1893 Instantograph Field Camera Body: VG - nice original condition Lens: Lancaster Patent, missing objectives with ... read more |
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| Aug 2023 | £40 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 292) Title: A Lancaster & Son ''The 1903 B. B.Instantagraph''Quarter Plate Mahogany and Brass Camera
Description:
A Lancaster & Son ''The 1903 B. B.Instantagraph''Quarter Plate Mahogany and Brass Camera, brass bound, some dulling to brass, bellows P, with five |
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| Apr 2023 | £140 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 103) Title: A mahogany and brass Lancaster 'The 1893 Instantograph Patent' Quarter-Plate Field Camera
Description:
A mahogany and brass Lancaster 'The 1893 Instantograph Patent' Quarter-Plate Field Camera, brass-bound bottom corners to rear standard, with |
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| Mar 2023 | £175 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 477) Title: A Lancaster Instantograph Quarter Plate Field Camera
Description:
1894 patent, mahogany body, serial no.137, double extension, reversing back, square-cornered bellows with Lancaster f/10 brass lens, body G, bellows |
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| Apr 2022 | £725 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 181) Title: A J. Lancaster Instantograph Mahogany Quarter Plate Camera
Description:
1880, with J. Lancaster & sons rotary Waterhouse stop brass lens with rotary shutter, body, VG, lens, VG, complete with one DDS |
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| Apr 2022 | £288 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 180) Title: A J. Lancaster & Sons 'The 1889 Instantograph Patent' Mahogany & Brass Quarter Plate Camera
Description:
1889, with J. Lancaster & Sons brass lens, body, VG, lens, VG, one small bloom, complete with Lancaster's Patent See Saw Shutter, original tripod and |
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| Jan 2007 | £180 | Christie's | |
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Auction: The Ganz Collection of Magic Lanterns, Optical Toys & Pre-Cinema (Lot 3) Title: Instantograph 1893 field camera
Description:
Instantograph 1893 field camera Estimate: £100 - £140 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Lancaster Instantograph quarter-plate worth today?
Most quarter-plate Instantographs sell for between £40 and £180 at UK auction, with a typical hammer price around £150 for a complete, presentable example.
How much does a Lancaster Instantograph sell for in exceptional condition?
A full outfit with original lens, multiple dark slides and the maker's case has reached £725 at auction, but that price level requires completeness and clean cosmetics rather than just a working body.
What affects the value and price of a Lancaster Instantograph?
Bellows condition, presence of the original brass-bound Lancaster lens, surviving dark slides and case completeness are the main factors; bare bodies with damaged bellows sit at the bottom of the range.
Is the Lancaster Instantograph still usable?
Yes, with intact bellows and a usable dark slide it can still expose 3¼ × 4¼ inch glass plates or sheet film cut to size, though plate holders and chemistry must be sourced second-hand.