CameraWorth.com

San Giorgio Janua

The San Giorgio Janua is a 35mm rangefinder camera produced in Italy in the early 1950s by the Genoa-based optical firm San Giorgio. It was a small-batch domestic product aimed at the Italian market and never reached the volumes of contemporary German or Japanese rangefinders, which is the main reason it now turns up so rarely.

At UK auction the Janua has fetched hammer results between roughly £1,400 and £4,800 over the past decade or so, with a median around £1,800 — these are saleroom wholesale levels, before commission. Recent sales in 2021 settled in the £1,700–£1,900 band, suggesting that as of today a clean, complete example is worth materially less than the £4,800 outlier achieved in 2013, which reflected exceptional condition or provenance. Price is highly condition-sensitive: the difference between a tired body and a presentable one with the original lens is what determines whether a Janua sells for the low end or the top of the range.

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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: November 2021

Date Price Source
Nov 2021 £1,736 Flints Auctions
Apr 2021 £1,860 Flints Auctions
Nov 2019 EUR 1,400 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 1,600 Leitz Auction
Jun 2015 EUR 2,600 Leitz Auction
Jun 2015 EUR 1,600 Leitz Auction
Nov 2013 EUR 4,800 Leitz Auction
May 2012 EUR 2,600 Leitz Auction
May 2006 EUR 3,400 Leitz Auction
Sep 2001 £1,175 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a San Giorgio Janua worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices put the value of a San Giorgio Janua at roughly £1,400 to £1,900 for typical examples, with a median around £1,800. Exceptional examples have sold for considerably more.

How much does a San Giorgio Janua sell for at auction?

Over the last decade the Janua has sold for between about £1,400 and £4,800 at UK auction, with most results clustered between £1,600 and £2,600 at the hammer.

Why is the price range so wide?

The Janua was produced in small numbers, so condition, completeness and the presence of the original matched lens have an outsized effect on price. A tired body sells near the low end of the range, while a clean, complete outfit can command a significant premium.

Is the San Giorgio Janua rare?

Yes — it was a low-volume Italian rangefinder from the early 1950s and appears at major UK auctions only occasionally, which is why even average examples retain four-figure values.

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