Newman & Guardia Nydia
The Newman & Guardia Nydia is a British-made folding plate camera produced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by the London firm Newman & Guardia. It was sold as a compact hand camera for glass plates, aimed at serious amateurs who wanted a portable alternative to a stand camera.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Nydia have ranged from about £340 to £600, with a median near £440 based on the limited sales on record. As of 2026, condition drives what a Nydia is worth today: clean, working examples with original leather and intact bellows sell for more, while tatty bodies with pinholed bellows fetch the lower end of the range at saleroom level.
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 2025
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| Oct 2025 | £239 | Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 28) Title: A Newman & Guardia Nydia Plate Camera.
Description:
240mm CZJ Protarlinse lens, shutter not firing, clip-on finder absent. Unusual folding design, with remains of original case. |
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| Nov 2024 | £375 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 336) Title: A Newman & Guardia Nydia 9x12cm Camera
Description:
body VG, possible early serial no: stamped "15" to inside of rear cover, stamped "15" to brackets on side of camera that attach the struts, shutter (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2024 | £400 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 303) Title: A Newman & Guardia Nydia Camera
Description:
c.1900, serial no.352241, quarter plate, with a Ross Homocentric f/6.3 5½in.lens, shutter not working, body G, lens F, with case, focusing screen and |
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| Apr 2022 | £438 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 148) Title: A Newman & Guardia Nydia Camera
Description:
1900-, with Ross Symmetrical Anastigmat f/8 5½" lens, serial no. 60525, body, G-VG, shutter requires attention, lens, G-VG, some haze to rear element, |
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| Mar 2022 | £475 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors sale (Lot 761) Title: A Newman & Guardia Nydia Camera
Description:
with Ross Symmetrical Anastigmat f/8 5 1/2" lens, with two backs, one the standard Newman & Guardia back and the other homemade from aluminium to |
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| Nov 2021 | £558 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 285) Title: A Newman & Guardia Nydia Camera
Description:
1900, with Carl Zeiss Jena Protarlinse f/6.3 240mm lens, black, serial no. 40430, body, G-VG, lens, VG, with uncommon integrated folding tripod |
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| May 2020 | £514 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 193) Title: A Newman & Guardia Nydia 9x12cm Camera
Description:
A Newman & Guardia Nydia 9x12cm Camera, 1900, serial no. 920, with R&J Beck f/8 lens, serial no. 7272, body, G, shutter working, lens, G, some |
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| Jun 2017 | EUR 650 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 31 (Lot AI_31_35348) Title: Newman & Guardia Nydia
Description:
extremely rare format 8x10,5cm, unusual folding plate film camera, polished mahogany body, black leather bellows, Zeiss Tessar 6.3/145mm no.65242, in excellent condition Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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| Dec 2010 | EUR 540 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 18 (Lot AI_18_11667) Title: Newman & Guardia Nydia
Description:
9x12cm, unusual design which is essentially a Newman bag changer for eight quarter plates with changing lever and automatic counter, to which is attached a folding camera, Ross lens, Premo film pack adapter Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Dec 2009 | EUR 600 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 16 (Lot AI_16_19367) Title: Newman & Guardia Nydia Pocket Camera
Description:
Unusual design which is essentially a Newman bag changer for eight quarter plates with changing lever and automatic counter, to which is attached a folding camera. Carl Zeiss Jena Protarlinse 240mm no.54616 lens with between-lens iris diaphragm and eyelid type shutter with speeds 2 to 1/100 sec. Probably the most portable of the magazine cameras. Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Jun 2008 | EUR 800 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 13 (Lot AI_13_16826) Title: Newman & Guardia Nydia
Description:
extremely rare in format 10x13cm, unusual folding plate film camera, polished mahogany body, black leather bellows, Zeiss Protarlinse 285mm no.71074, in fine condition with original case Estimate: EUR 1,500 - EUR 1,800 |
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| May 2007 | EUR 1,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 11 (Lot AI_11_16373) Title: Newman & Guardia Nydia
Description:
9x12cm, very unusual, folding plate film camera, nice Ross lens, original case Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Dec 2002 | £446 | Christie's | |
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Auction: THE BRITISH CAMERA 1840-1960 THE JIM BARRON COLLECTION (Lot 63) Title: Nydia camera no. 183
Description:
Nydia camera no. 183 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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| Jul 2001 | £376 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 394) Title: Nydia collapsible camera no. 180
Description:
Nydia collapsible camera no. 180 Estimate: £250 - £350 |
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| Jan 1999 | £345 | Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras, The Property of a Collector (Lot 303) Title: Nydia no. 342
Description:
Nydia no. 342 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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| Jul 1998 | £437 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 356) Title: Nydia hand camera no. 826
Description:
Nydia hand camera no. 826 Estimate: £400 - £600 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Newman & Guardia Nydia worth today?
Recorded UK auction hammer results sit between roughly £340 and £600, with most clean examples selling for about £400–£480.
How much does a Newman & Guardia Nydia sell for at auction?
Recent sales price the Nydia around £400–£475 at hammer, with an older Leitz-Photographica result at £600 marking the top of the range seen.
What affects the value and price of a Nydia?
Bellows condition, completeness of plate holders and ground-glass back, working shutter, and cosmetic state of the leather and woodwork are the main factors that move the price up or down.