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Lancaster Merveilleux

The Lancaster Merveilleux is an early British-made plate camera produced by J. Lancaster & Son of Birmingham in the late 19th century. It was sold as an affordable hand or stand camera during the pre-cinema plate era, aimed at amateur photographers of its day.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Lancaster Merveilleux have spanned roughly £74 to £550, with a median around £180 based on a small sample of saleroom results. Today in 2026 the value depends heavily on completeness and cosmetic condition, and a single well-preserved example in 2017 sells for far more than the tired examples that passed through Christie's in 1999. Because only a handful of auction records are available, what this camera is worth can swing sharply between sales.

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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.

Date Price Source
Jul 2025 £81 Flints Auctions
Oct 2024 £110 Special Auction Services
Oct 2017 £156 Flints Auctions
Jun 2017 EUR 550 Leitz Auction
Sep 1999 £126 Christie's
Sep 1999 £74 Christie's
Jan 1999 £230 Christie's

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