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Sanderson Tropen Hand & Standkamera (Tropical)

The Sanderson Tropen Hand & Standkamera is the tropical variant of Sanderson's British-made hand-and-stand plate camera, a large-format folding design intended for use either handheld or on a tripod. Tropical-specification bodies of this period were typically finished in polished hardwood with brass fittings, aimed at photographers working in hot and humid climates where standard leather-covered bodies were prone to failure.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Sanderson Tropen have ranged from around £220 to £600, with a median close to £350 across the tracked sales. The 2019 result of £600 at Flints is the strongest recent data point, while earlier Christie's sales between 2000 and 2007 cluster in the £220–£490 band, so today a clean, complete example tends to sell for a mid-three-figure sum at saleroom level, with condition of the woodwork, bellows and brass driving most of the variation in what the camera is worth.

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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 £227 Chiswick Auctions
Nov 2021 £682 Flints Auctions
Nov 2020 £397 Flints Auctions
Oct 2019 £600 Flints Auctions
Mar 2007 £216 Christie's
Nov 2003 £305 Christie's
May 2003 £282 Christie's
Feb 2002 £352 Christie's
Nov 2000 £493 Christie's
Sep 1999 £437 Christie's

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