Meagher Tailboard Stereo Camera
The Meagher Tailboard Stereo Camera is a British-made wooden tailboard view camera built for stereoscopic photography, with twin lenses producing paired plate negatives that, when viewed together, create a three-dimensional image. Tailboard cameras of this pattern were typical late-Victorian studio and field instruments, and Meagher of London was active as a maker of high-quality wooden cameras during this period.
Public auction data for this model is extremely thin: a single recorded UK saleroom hammer result of £1,762 from December 2002 is the only data point available, so a meaningful price range cannot be drawn today. Because these are scarce wooden stereo cameras, hammer prices at auction are highly condition- and completeness-sensitive, with original lenses, matched shutters and intact bellows driving what a clean example sells for. Anyone trying to value a Meagher tailboard stereo in 2026 should treat the 2002 figure as indicative only and seek current comparable hammer results before relying on it.
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: December 2024
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Dec 2024 | £275 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 313) Title: A Meagher Stereo Full Plate Tailboard Camera
Description:
English, c. 1890, signed on plaque "Meagher Manufacturer, 21 Southampton Row, High Holborn, London WC", constructed of french polished mahogany with |
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| Dec 2002 | £1,762 | Christie's | |
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Auction: THE BRITISH CAMERA 1840-1960 THE JIM BARRON COLLECTION (Lot 119) Title: Stereoscopic tailboard camera
Description:
Stereoscopic tailboard camera Estimate: £600 - £900 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Meagher Tailboard Stereo Camera worth today?
Auction data is too sparse to give a reliable current value; the only recorded UK hammer price is £1,762 from December 2002, so any present-day worth should be checked against fresh comparable sales.
How much does a Meagher Tailboard Stereo Camera sell for at auction?
With just one recorded saleroom result of £1,762, there is no established price range, and what an example sells for will depend heavily on completeness, lens pairing and the condition of the bellows and woodwork.
Why is the price history so limited?
Meagher stereo tailboard cameras are scarce nineteenth-century instruments that rarely come to market, so very few verified UK auction hammer results exist to build a value benchmark from.