Meagher Tailboard Camera (double extension)
The Meagher Tailboard Camera (double extension) is a wooden field camera designed for plate photography, with a folding tailboard bed and a double-extension bellows that allows close-focus and longer-focal-length lens use. Cameras of this type were produced in Britain in the late 19th century for studio and outdoor plate work.
Recorded UK auction activity for the Meagher Tailboard Camera (double extension) is thin, with a single hammer result of £69 logged in our sales data — a wholesale level achieved in the saleroom rather than a retail asking price. With only one data point, it is difficult to give a representative price band today in 2026, and what a clean example sells for can vary widely with bellows condition, completeness of plate holders, and the presence of a period lens.
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 | £1,560 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 387) Title: A Fine Meagher 12x10" Mahogany Tailboard Camera
Description:
1870-1880, double extension, with Ross Rapid Symmetrical 12x10" lens, brass, serial no. 42199, body, VG, lens, VG, complete with three DDS and six |
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| Nov -0001 | £69 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 214) Title: A Meagher Quarter Plate Mahogany Tailboard Camera
Description:
double extension, body G, some missing parts, bellows F-G, some heavy corner wear, missing lens board & ground glass, corrosion to metal parts, (Qty: 1) |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Meagher Tailboard Camera (double extension) worth?
The only verified UK auction hammer result in our data is £69, so the value of any individual example will depend heavily on condition, completeness, and whether a usable lens is fitted.
How much does a Meagher Tailboard Camera (double extension) sell for at auction?
Recorded sales are limited to one hammer price of £69, and that figure is the best available reference for what this model has sold for at UK auction.
What should I check before buying one?
Look closely at the bellows for light leaks, test the double-extension focusing mechanism, and confirm the plate back and any holders are present and undamaged.