Rollei Rolleiflex I Original
The Rolleiflex I Original is the first Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera, introduced by Franke & Heidecke at the end of the 1920s. It is a medium-format TLR producing 6x6 negatives and was the camera that established the Rolleiflex line.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Rolleiflex I Original have ranged from about £10 to £80, with clean working examples today typically selling for around £70–£80. Condition is the dominant factor in what one of these is worth: tired bodies with haze, shutter issues or missing parts sell for pocket change, while a cosmetically tidy and functional example sells for several times that in the saleroom.
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Based on 17 recorded sales.
Last checked on eBay: 13 August 2026. Most recent sale: January 2026.
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Jan 2026 | £40 | £40 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 252) Title: A Rolleiflex I Original TLR Camera
Description:
A Rolleiflex I Original TLR Camera, serial no 024899, shutter working, body G, some scuffs & paint wear, with Carl Zeiss Jens 7.5cm f/3.5 Tessar lens, |
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| Jun 2025 | £25 | £20 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 164) Title: A Rollei Rolleiflex 1 Original Medium Format TLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 75996, body F-G, shutter works, focuses, iris works, optics have light haze. |
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| Mar 2025 | £175 | £140 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 251) Title: A Rollei Rolleiflex 1 Original Medium Format TLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 22478, an early manufacture, body F-G, shutter works, focuses, iris works, optics hazy. |
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| Feb 2025 | £140 | £140 | 🇬🇧 Harper Field Auctions | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 266) Title: Rolleiflex I TLR camera, serial no 21899, with Carl Zeiss Jena 7.5cm 1:3.8 Tessar lens, in
Description:
Rolleiflex I TLR camera, serial no 21899, with Carl Zeiss Jena 7.5cm 1:3.8 Tessar lens, in |
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| Jan 2025 | £10 | £10 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 795) Title: A Rolleiflex I TLR Camera
Description:
A Rolleiflex I TLR Camera, serial no 015983, shutter sluggish/sticking in slow speeds, body F-G, wear & paint scratches to edges, with Carl Zeiss |
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| Jan 2025 | £30 | £30 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 297) Title: A Rolleiflex I Original TLR Camera
Description:
A Rolleiflex I Original TLR Camera, shutter working, body F-G, paint wear to edges, with Carl Zeiss Jena 7.5cm f/3.5 Tessar lens, elements F, fungus |
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| Aug 2024 | £10 | £10 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 384) Title: A Rolleiflex I TLR Camera
Description:
A Rolleiflex I TLR Camera, serial no 025570, shutter sticking in slow speeds, body F, paint wear, scuffs, with Carl Zeiss Jena 7.5cm f/3.8 Tessar |
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| Jul 2024 | £75 | £60 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 584) Title: A Rolleiflex Original TLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 80142, body F, shutter works, with Tessar f/4.5 7.5cm lens, optics F with haze, with caps. |
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| Dec 2023 | £80 | £80 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 269) Title: A Rolleiflex I TLR Camera
Description:
A Rolleiflex I TLR Camera, serial no 34871, shutter sticking in slow speeds, body F, ding to front edge, paint wear to edges, with Carl Zeiss Jena |
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| Jun 2023 | EUR 450 | £386 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 42 (Lot AI_20220121_1128_41423) Title: Rolleiflex I Original Tessar 4.5/7.5cm
Description:
Beautiful and very early first version, with Tessar 4.5/7.5cm no.991737, in almost mint condition and working order, no focus scale, chassis engraved with 8777, with wooden spool, yellow filter no.35596, close-up lens, leather strap, very early lenses cap (without hole) and early leather case (with strap extension) Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| Apr 2023 | £70 | £70 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 346) Title: A Rolleiflex I TLR Camera
Description:
A Rolleiflex I TLR Camera, serial no 91706, shutter working, body G, some paint wear to film door and front edges with Carl Zeiss Jena 7.5cm f/3.5 |
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| Jul 2016 | £50 | £50 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive) | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica Including The Mike Simkin Magic Lantern Collection Thursday 7th July 2016 at 10:00 (Lot 629) Title: A Rolleiflex I Original TLR Camera
Description:
A Rolleiflex I Original TLR Camera, black, serial no. 30457, with Carl Zeiss Tessar f/4.5 75mm lens, serial no. 991173, body, G-VG, shutter working, slow speeds sticking, lens, VG, some very light internal haze, in maker's case Estimate: £70 - £100 |
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| Dec 2009 | EUR 655 | £589 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 16 (Lot AI_16_19600) Title: Rolleiflex I Original 6x6
Description:
first model Rolleiflex in beautiful condition with Tessar 3.8/7.5cm no.1052507 in Compur shutter, original cap, case Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| May 2003 | EUR 458 | £327 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 2-3 (Lot AI_2_22284) Title: Rolleiflex I
Description:
very early Rolleiflex with Tessar f/4.5 7.5cm lens no. 980623 in Compur shutter with cap and case Estimate: EUR 1,929 - EUR 22,005 |
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| May 2003 | EUR 198 | £141 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 2-3 (Lot AI_2_22285) Title: Rolleiflex I
Description:
with a Tessar f/4.5 7.5cm lens no. 1148048, cap, very nice condition Estimate: EUR 1,931 - EUR 57,863 |
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| Jun 1999 | £126 | £110 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Leica Cameras (Lot 24) Title: Rolleiflex original no. 64978
Description:
Rolleiflex original no. 64978 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Nov 1998 | £25 | £22 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: KOSLOV COLLECTION OF CAMERAS AND SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (Lot 166) Title: Rolleiflex original no. 112913
Description:
Rolleiflex original no. 112913 Estimate: £25 - £100 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Rolleiflex I Original worth today?
In 2026, recent UK auction hammer results put the value of a Rolleiflex I Original at roughly £10 for rough examples up to about £80 for clean, functional ones.
How much does a Rolleiflex I Original sell for at auction?
Recent UK saleroom results cluster around £70–£80 for presentable working examples, with the price falling sharply for cameras with shutter, lens or cosmetic faults.
Why do prices for the Rolleiflex I Original vary so much?
Condition and completeness drive the value — a tidy example with a clear lens and working shutter sells for many times what a damaged or incomplete body fetches, which is why recent hammer prices span from single figures to about £80.