Pöck Patent Detective Camera
The Pöck Patent Detective Camera is an early German-made detective camera, a category of compact, disguised or concealed cameras produced in the late 19th century for discreet photography. Examples appear only rarely on the collector market, where interest is driven by their historical significance rather than photographic utility.
Records for the Pöck Patent Detective Camera are scarce, with hammer prices at UK and European auction ranging from roughly £1,600 to £3,300 across the two sales on file. With so few data points there is no reliable median, and what a Pöck Patent Detective Camera sells for today depends heavily on completeness, condition, and provenance, with documented examples commanding a clear premium in the auction market.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2018 | EUR 1,600 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 32 (Lot AI_32_36380) Title: Hans Pöck Patent Detective camera
Description:
very rare 6x9cm detective camera in walnut housing, internal magazine for 15 plates, unmarked brass lens behind a front-guillotine shutter, built-in compartment for spare plates, the camera has been used concealed as a case Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 3,333 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_22464) Title: Hans Pöck Pöck´s Patent Detective camera
Description:
6x9cm, Walnussgehäuse, Magazin für 15 Platten, Fixfokusobjektiv Voigtländer Euryscop, Guillotineverschluss, eingebautes Fach für Reserveplatten, Messingsucher; äußerst seltene Detektivkamera, wurde damals mit einer Ledertasche getarnt verwendet Estimate: EUR 1,888 - EUR 470 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Pöck Patent Detective Camera worth today?
Recorded UK auction hammer prices sit between about £1,600 and £3,300, so a fair guide to value is the low-to-mid four figures depending on condition and originality.
How much does a Pöck Patent Detective Camera sell for at auction?
The two sales on record fetched £1,600 and £3,300 at hammer, with buyer's premium added on top at the saleroom.
Why does the price vary so much?
Detective cameras of this period are valued for rarity, completeness, and condition, so the presence of original fittings, a working shutter, and intact bodywork can shift the price materially.