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Perken Tailboard camera

The Perken Tailboard camera is a British-made wood-and-brass plate camera of the tailboard pattern, built for studio and field use with sheet-film or plate holders. Perken (of Perken, Son & Rayment / Perken, Son & Co., London) produced tailboard instruments during the late-Victorian and Edwardian era, positioning them as general-purpose professional plate cameras of the period.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Perken Tailboard have sat in a wide band from around £76 to £220, with a median near £190 based on the limited sales on record. Condition drives value heavily in 2026: the 2024 Chiswick result of £76 reflects a rougher example, while clean bellows and intact brass fittings are what pushed earlier Christie's lots toward the top of the range. These figures are saleroom hammer results and exclude buyer's and seller's commission, so the gross cost to a buyer sits above what is printed here.

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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.

Date Price Source
Aug 2024 £76 Chiswick Auctions
Oct 2022 £225 Flints Auctions
Oct 2017 £96 Flints Auctions
Sep 2005 £144 Christie's
Feb 2002 £223 Christie's
Aug 2000 £188 Christie's

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