Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl
The Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl is a British-made folding plate camera from the early twentieth century, produced as a smaller-format companion to the firm's larger Sibyl series. Newman & Guardia were London makers known for precision folding cameras aimed at the serious amateur and professional market.
UK auction hammer results for the Baby Sibyl are thin on the ground, with recorded sales ranging from £600 to £1,000 at saleroom level (wholesale, before commission). With only two data points the median sits around £800, and today values remain highly condition-sensitive: complete examples with a working shutter, clean bellows and the original leather case tend to sell for more than incomplete or distressed bodies. Because examples come to auction infrequently, what a Baby Sibyl is worth in any given year depends heavily on the specific lens and shutter fitted.
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 | |
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| Jun 2023 | £350 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 309) Title: A Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl Folding Camera
Description:
black, body G-VG, shutter working, light damage to waist level finder, in maker's case, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2023 | £288 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 378) Title: A Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl Folding Camera
Description:
body G, with accessories outfit in leather case, |
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| Mar 2018 | EUR 900 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 32 (Lot AI_32_36057) Title: Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl
Description:
for plates 4.5x6cm, in beautiful condition, with Ross Xpres 4.5/7.5cm no.129606, focusing screen, original film pack holder, three matching double plate holders (all in maker's boxes), very hard to find in such good condition Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Nov 2011 | EUR 500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 20 (Lot AI_20_13017) Title: Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl
Description:
for plates 4.5x6cm, in very good condition, with Sibyl-Cooke Serie II 3inch no.71546, two film-pack holders (one original N&G with leather covering), without focusing screen adapter Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 900 |
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| May 2011 | EUR 1,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 19 (Lot AI_19_12853) Title: Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl
Description:
4.5x6cm, for plates in very fine original condition, with focusing screen adapter, Ross Xpress 4.5/75mm no.129609, folding reflex finder, yellow filter, cable release, 3 N&G double film holders, all in matching wooden outfit case, 4 more N&G double film holders in wooden case Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Nov 2008 | EUR 600 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 14 (Lot AI_14_17764) Title: Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl
Description:
for plates 4.5x6cm, in very good condition, with Doppelanastigmat-Helioplan 4.5/75mm no.300338, double filmholder, (without focusing screen adapter) Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| May 2006 | EUR 1,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 9 (Lot AI_9_27112) Title: Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl
Description:
for plates 4.5x6cm, in very good condition, with Tessar 4.5/7.5cm no.211020, focusing screen adapter, film pack adapter, film holders, rare original folding hood, leather outfit case Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Feb 2006 | £120 | Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras and Photographic Equipment including the Property of a Photographer (Lot 332) Title: Baby Sibyl no. B706
Description:
Baby Sibyl no. B706 Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 1,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_24819) Title: Newman & Guardia Baby Sibyl
Description:
4.5x6cm, Xpres 4.5/75mm no.110446, very rare Teleros 5.5/6 1/4" in case, 7 film holders, red and yellow filters, extremely rare adapter for stereo exposures, Sinclair case Estimate: EUR 1,400 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Dec 2002 | £329 | Christie's | |
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Auction: THE BRITISH CAMERA 1840-1960 THE JIM BARRON COLLECTION (Lot 59) Title: Baby Sibyl no. B1360
Description:
Baby Sibyl no. B1360 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| Dec 2002 | £705 | Christie's | |
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Auction: THE BRITISH CAMERA 1840-1960 THE JIM BARRON COLLECTION (Lot 60) Title: Baby Sibyl camera no. B1370
Description:
Baby Sibyl camera no. B1370 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| Nov 1999 | £63 | Christie's | |
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Auction: Magic Lanterns, Optical Toys and Cameras (Lot 505) Title: Baby Sibyl no. B422
Description:
Baby Sibyl no. B422 Estimate: £25 - £100 |
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| Oct 1999 | £218 | Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras and Optical Toys (Lot 292) Title: Baby Sibyl no. B474
Description:
Baby Sibyl no. B474 Estimate: £25 - £150 |
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