Lancaster Meritoire
The Lancaster Meritoire is a late-Victorian British field camera produced by J. Lancaster & Son of Birmingham, a maker known for mahogany and brass plate cameras of the period. It was sold as a wet- or dry-plate instrument aimed at amateur and travelling photographers when new.
Sales data for the Meritoire is thin, but the two recorded UK auction hammer results — wholesale saleroom levels rather than dealer retail — came in at £149 and £164, giving a narrow range around £150–£160 and a midpoint near £157. As of today in 2026, realised prices at auction for early Lancaster wood-and-brass cameras remain highly condition-sensitive, so what a Meritoire sells for depends heavily on bellows integrity, completeness of the lens and plate holders, and the state of the original finish.
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Prices updated: March 2003
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Mar 2003 | £164 | £140 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 329) Title: Le Meritoire field camera
Description:
Le Meritoire field camera Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Jan 1999 | £149 | £130 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras, The Property of a Collector (Lot 253) Title: Le Meritoire field camera
Description:
Le Meritoire field camera Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Lancaster Meritoire worth today?
Based on the limited auction record available, hammer prices have sat in the £150–£160 band, so a complete and presentable example is worth roughly that at UK saleroom level.
How much does a Lancaster Meritoire sell for at auction?
The two tracked UK auction sales achieved £149 and £164 respectively, which is the best available guide to current value until more results accumulate.
What affects the price of a Lancaster Meritoire?
Condition of the bellows, completeness (lens, plate holders, ground glass) and the state of the mahogany and brass are the main factors influencing what one sells for.