CameraWorth.com

Shew Eclipse

The Shew Eclipse is a 19th-century British folding plate camera produced by J.F. Shew & Co. of London. It was built as a compact wooden hand and stand camera for glass-plate photography, aimed at amateur and travel users of the period.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Shew Eclipse have ranged from around £120 to £300, with a median near £190 based on the limited sales on record. Values today in 2026 are heavily condition-sensitive, and the sparse sales record means any given example can sell well above or below that band depending on completeness and cosmetic state — so what a Shew Eclipse is worth at saleroom level varies more than for better-documented models.

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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
Apr 2024 £120 Special Auction Services
Nov 2022 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
Oct 2017 £288 Flints Auctions
Dec 2010 EUR 250 Leitz Auction
Sep 2001 £188 Christie's
Jul 2001 £188 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Shew Eclipse worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer results sit in a £120–£300 range, with a median around £190; the price a specific example sells for depends largely on bellows condition, completeness of plate holders, and the state of the lens and shutter.

How much does a Shew Eclipse sell for at auction?

On the limited sales record, the Shew Eclipse has sold for as little as £120 and as much as £300 at UK salerooms, excluding buyer's premium.

Is the Shew Eclipse a usable camera?

It is a glass-plate camera, so practical use today requires sheet-film adapters or plate coating and a functional bellows and shutter; many surviving examples are bought as display or collector pieces rather than working cameras.

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