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Newman & Guardia New Special Sibyl

The Newman & Guardia New Special Sibyl is a British-made folding plate camera from the early twentieth century. Newman & Guardia was a London firm whose cameras were aimed at serious amateurs and professionals, positioned as precision instruments at the upper end of the market when new.

Hammer prices at UK auction have ranged from roughly £70 to £320 across recorded sales, with a median close to £130 at saleroom level. Condition is the dominant value driver today in 2026 — examples with clean leather, intact bellows and a working shutter sell for more, while tired bodies fetch the lower end of the range. As with most pre-war British folders, this is a thin market and individual results vary more than the median suggests.

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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: January 2026

Date Price Source
Jan 2026 £62 Flints Auctions
Sep 2025 £112 Flints Auctions
Nov 2023 £162 Flints Auctions
Jan 2023 £162 Flints Auctions
Nov 2022 £300 Flints Auctions
Apr 2022 £262 Flints Auctions
Dec 2009 EUR 260 Leitz Auction
Mar 2007 £108 Christie's
Sep 2005 £72 Christie's
Sep 2005 £132 Christie's
Nov 2004 EUR 323 Leitz Auction
Nov 2003 £141 Christie's
Nov 2003 £70 Christie's
May 2003 EUR 250 Leitz Auction
Sep 2001 £94 Christie's
Jul 2001 £94 Christie's
Jul 2001 £164 Christie's
Aug 1998 £80 Christie's
Aug 1998 £80 Christie's
Jan 1998 £115 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Newman & Guardia New Special Sibyl worth today?

Recorded UK auction hammer prices sit between about £70 and £320, with a median near £130. Clean, complete examples with a working shutter tend to sell for more.

How much does a New Special Sibyl sell for at auction?

Recent sales have been in the £130–£160 range at hammer, though earlier results show the full spread runs from under £100 for rough examples to over £300 for exceptional ones.

What affects the price of a Newman & Guardia Sibyl?

Bellows integrity, shutter function, completeness of plate holders and case, and overall cosmetic condition are the main factors. The market is small, so presentation and provenance matter.

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