Negretti& Zambra Sliding Box Camera
The Negretti & Zambra Sliding Box Camera is a 19th-century wooden plate camera using the sliding-box focusing system, in which the rear section slides within an outer box to bring the image to focus on a ground-glass screen. Negretti & Zambra was a London optical and scientific instrument maker, and cameras under their name belong to the early wet-plate and daguerreotype era of British photography.
Sales data for this model is extremely thin: only a single UK auction hammer result is recorded, at £4,560 in 2017. With one data point, there is no meaningful range or median to quote, and the price a comparable example would sell for today depends heavily on completeness, condition of the woodwork and brass fittings, and whether an original lens is present. Buyers researching what one of these is worth at saleroom level should treat the figure as indicative only.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2017 | £4,560 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 185) Title: A Sliding Box Camera Outfit By Negretti & Zambra London
Description:
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Negretti & Zambra Sliding Box Camera worth today?
The only recorded UK auction sale in our data achieved £4,560 in 2017; with just one data point, this should be read as a guide rather than a firm market price.
How much does a Negretti & Zambra Sliding Box Camera sell for at auction?
Hammer results are scarce, but the single recorded UK sale reached £4,560, reflecting the rarity of named 19th-century British sliding box cameras when they appear at auction.
What affects the value of a sliding box camera like this?
Condition of the wood and brass, presence of the original lens, working plate holders, and clear maker's markings all materially affect the price these cameras achieve.