Lancaster International Patent
The Lancaster International Patent is a British-made plate camera from J. Lancaster & Son of Birmingham, a maker active in the late 19th and early Edwardian period. It is a wooden-bodied view/field camera designed for sheet-plate photography, aimed at amateur and travelling photographers of its era.
With only two recorded UK auction hammer results, the Lancaster International Patent has sold for £160 and £160 (rounded to two significant figures), giving a narrow spread around a £160 median at saleroom level. Today these wholesale hammer prices exclude buyer's premium, and what a Lancaster International Patent is worth in the current market depends heavily on completeness of the brass fittings, bellows condition, and whether original plate holders are present.
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 2017
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Oct 2017 | £156 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 238) Title: A J. Lancaster & Son 'The International' Patent Quarter Plate Mahogany Tailboard Camera
Description:
1886, with a J. Lancaster & Son f/10 brass lens, body, G-VG, lens, G-VG |
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| Mar 2003 | £117 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 328) Title: International patent tailboard camera
Description:
International patent tailboard camera Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Mar 2001 | £164 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 241) Title: International patent tailboard camera
Description:
International patent tailboard camera Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Lancaster International Patent worth today?
Based on two UK auction hammer results, the camera has sold for around £160, though the small sample means the price a given example sells for can vary widely with condition and completeness.
How much does a Lancaster International Patent sell for at auction?
Recorded hammer prices sit at £160, but with only two sales on file this figure is indicative rather than a firm market value.
What affects the price of a Lancaster International Patent?
Bellows integrity, the presence of original plate holders, working shutter and lens, and the overall condition of the wood and brass are the main factors driving value.