Lancaster Ladies Camera (tailboard)
The Lancaster Ladies Camera is a tailboard plate camera produced by J. Lancaster & Son of Birmingham in the late Victorian era. The tailboard design — a folding wooden field camera with a hinged baseboard — was a common British format of the period, and the "Ladies" naming reflected its compact, lighter-weight presentation aimed at amateur use.
Auction data for this model is very thin: a single recorded UK saleroom result from 2017 hammered at £456, which gives an indicative reference point rather than a reliable market price. With only one data point in our records, the figure should be read as a wholesale auction-hammer outcome and not as a current retail value, and what a Lancaster Ladies Camera (tailboard) is worth today will depend heavily on completeness, lens, and cosmetic condition.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2017 | £456 | Flints Auctions | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 232) Title: A J. Lancaster & Son 'The Ladies' Quarter Plate Mahogany Tailbaord Camera
Description:
1891, with unmarked f/8 brass lens, body, G-VG, lacking top name plate, lens, G, some separation to perimeter of front elements; Originally sold in a |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
Frequently asked questions
What is a Lancaster Ladies Camera (tailboard) worth today?
Evidence is limited to one UK auction result at £456 in 2017, so a precise current value cannot be given; condition, completeness and originality drive what each example sells for.
How much does a Lancaster Ladies Camera sell for at auction?
The only recorded hammer price in our data is £456, achieved at a UK saleroom; without further comparables this should be treated as indicative rather than a reliable market price.
Is the Lancaster Ladies Camera collectable?
As a Victorian British tailboard plate camera it has display and collector appeal, but the very limited sales record means market liquidity is low and prices are case-by-case.