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Sanderson Hand Camera

The Sanderson Hand Camera is a British wooden folding plate camera designed by Frederick Sanderson and produced from the late 1890s onward. It was marketed as a hand-holdable alternative to tripod-bound field cameras, with a patented front standard offering rise, fall, and swing movements unusual for a camera of its size and era.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for Sanderson Hand Cameras have spanned roughly £46 to £600, with a median of about £170 based on thirteen Christie's saleroom results — wholesale levels before buyer's premium and very different from dealer retail. Condition is the dominant variable today: examples with intact bellows, clean brass fittings and a working Sanderson movement sell for noticeably more than tired bodies, and a fitted period lens of known maker can push value toward the upper end of that range. Buyers asking what a Sanderson Hand Camera is worth in 2026 should anchor expectations to that £170 median rather than outlier results.

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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: February 2024

Date Price Source
Feb 2024 £150 Flints Auctions
Jan 2021 £149 Flints Auctions
Nov 2006 £84 Christie's
Nov 2006 £84 Christie's
May 2006 £144 Christie's
May 2006 £120 Christie's
Feb 2006 £336 Christie's
Feb 2006 £120 Christie's
Feb 2006 £120 Christie's
Sep 2005 £96 Christie's
May 2005 £600 Christie's
Nov 2004 £382 Christie's
Nov 2003 £117 Christie's
Sep 2003 £94 Christie's
May 2003 £58 Christie's
May 2003 £117 Christie's
Mar 2003 £152 Christie's
Dec 2002 £176 Christie's
Dec 2002 £211 Christie's
Dec 2002 £199 Christie's
Nov 2002 £82 Christie's
Nov 2002 £141 Christie's
Sep 2002 £528 Christie's
Sep 2002 £164 Christie's
Sep 2002 £82 Christie's
Sep 2002 £176 Christie's
Sep 2002 £188 Christie's
Jul 2002 £129 Christie's
Jul 2002 £117 Christie's
Jul 2002 £105 Christie's
May 2002 £164 Christie's
Nov 2001 £293 Christie's
Jul 2001 £188 Christie's
Jul 2001 £152 Christie's
Jul 2001 £188 Christie's
Jul 2001 £152 Christie's
Jul 2001 £188 Christie's
Jul 2001 £94 Christie's
Jul 2001 £223 Christie's
Jul 2001 £493 Christie's
Jan 2001 £211 Christie's
Jan 2001 £411 Christie's
Nov 2000 £211 Christie's
Nov 2000 £164 Christie's
Aug 2000 £599 Christie's
Aug 2000 £176 Christie's
Jul 2000 £258 Christie's
Jul 2000 £117 Christie's
Jul 2000 £235 Christie's
May 2000 £164 Christie's
Jan 2000 £368 Christie's
Jan 2000 £2,300 Christie's
Jan 2000 £1,265 Christie's
Oct 1999 £230 Christie's
Oct 1999 £149 Christie's
Sep 1999 £172 Christie's
Jul 1999 £109 Christie's
May 1999 £161 Christie's
May 1999 £195 Christie's
Mar 1999 £230 Christie's
Mar 1999 £126 Christie's
Mar 1999 £115 Christie's
Mar 1999 £172 Christie's
Mar 1999 £172 Christie's
Feb 1999 £161 Christie's
Feb 1999 £69 Christie's
Feb 1999 £207 Christie's
Jan 1999 £322 Christie's
Aug 1998 £172 Christie's
Aug 1998 £46 Christie's
May 1998 £86 Christie's
May 1998 £299 Christie's
Jan 1998 £184 Christie's
Jan 1998 £126 Christie's
Jan 1998 £80 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Sanderson Hand Camera worth?

Auction hammer results in the UK have mostly fallen between roughly £120 and £210, with a median near £170; tired or incomplete examples sell for under £70, while clean cameras with desirable period lenses have reached £600.

How much does a Sanderson Hand Camera sell for at auction?

Recorded Christie's hammer prices range from £46 to £600, so typical value sits in the middle hundreds of pounds for a complete, presentable example.

What affects the price of a Sanderson Hand Camera?

Condition of the bellows and woodwork, whether the Sanderson movements still function smoothly, and the quality and maker of any fitted lens and shutter are the main drivers; cosmetic completeness of the brass and leather also influences value.

Are Sanderson Hand Cameras still usable?

Yes — they accept standard glass plates or sheet-film holders of the original format and can be used with period or modern lenses mounted on compatible lens boards, provided the bellows are light-tight.

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