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Ross Tailboard Camera

The Ross Tailboard Camera is a British-made wood-and-brass tailboard view camera, a large-format plate camera type produced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tailboards of this kind were used with glass plates and brass-bound lenses, and were positioned as general-purpose studio and field cameras in their day.

At UK auction, hammer prices recorded for the Ross Tailboard Camera sit between roughly £130 and £320, with the two logged sales averaging around £220 — these are saleroom hammer results rather than retail asking prices. Values today are highly condition-sensitive, and examples retaining their original Ross brass lens tend to sell for more than bodies offered without optics.

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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: April 2026

Date Price Source
Apr 2026 £775 Flints Auctions
Nov 2020 £521 Flints Auctions
Nov 2018 £480 Flints Auctions
Nov 2004 £573 Christie's
Mar 2001 £188 Christie's
Jan 2000 £977 Christie's
Jan 2000 £805 Christie's
Sep 1999 £126 Christie's
Aug 1998 £322 Christie's
Nov -0001 £212 Flints Auctions

Frequently asked questions

What is a Ross Tailboard Camera worth today?

Based on UK auction hammer results, a Ross Tailboard Camera has sold in the £130–£320 range, with value depending heavily on condition and whether an original Ross lens is included.

How much does a Ross Tailboard Camera sell for at auction?

Recorded UK saleroom prices show examples selling for around £126 at the lower end and £322 at the upper end, so a typical price sits in the low-to-mid hundreds of pounds.

What affects the value of a Ross Tailboard Camera?

Bellows condition, the integrity of the wooden body and brass fittings, and the presence of an original Ross brass lens and plate holders are the main factors that drive price.

Other Ross cameras