Lehmann Ben Akiba
The Lehmann Ben Akiba is a concealed detective camera, designed to be disguised as an everyday object rather than carried as a conventional camera. It is a rare turn-of-the-century curiosity that surfaces only occasionally in the specialist collector market.
With a single documented UK auction hammer result of £26,000 in 2011, the Ben Akiba sits firmly in the top tier of subminiature and detective-camera values, and today it remains a piece whose worth is set by individual saleroom appearances rather than a regular price stream. Because only one sale underpins the figure, that £26,000 hammer should be read as an indicative wholesale data point at saleroom level rather than a reliable median, and what a fresh example sells for would depend heavily on completeness, condition and bidder competition on the day.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2011 | EUR 26,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 19 (Lot AI_19_12849) Title: Lehmann Ben Akiba
Description:
Walking stick camera, nickel plated brass body, in original condition with matching lens. Emil Kronke patented his cane handle camera in Britain (1902), Germany (1903) and the United States (1904). It was manufactured by A. Lehmann of Berlin and marketed as the Ben Akiba walking stick camera, fakes and replicas of such cameras do exist, this camera is 100% original and authentic Estimate: EUR 15,000 - EUR 18,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Lehmann Ben Akiba worth today?
The only UK auction hammer result on file is £26,000 from 2011, which gives an indicative value at the top of the detective-camera market but is not a reliable guide to what every example would sell for.
How much does a Ben Akiba sell for at auction?
On the single recorded sale, the price reached £26,000 at hammer; with so few data points, individual results can vary widely depending on condition, completeness and provenance.
Why is the Ben Akiba so expensive?
It is a scarce concealed-style camera that appeals to specialist collectors of detective and subminiature equipment, and rarity rather than photographic capability drives its price.