Stirn L'Invisible
The Stirn L'Invisible is a late-19th-century concealed detective camera made in Germany, designed to be worn beneath a waistcoat with the lens protruding through a buttonhole to take circular dry-plate exposures. It was marketed as a covert photographic device rather than a general-purpose camera.
Auction evidence for the L'Invisible is extremely thin: the only recorded UK saleroom hammer result in our data is £800 from 2014, which sits well below retail dealer asking levels for comparable Victorian detective cameras. With just one verified hammer price on file, the wider value range in today's market cannot be reliably stated, and what a Stirn L'Invisible is worth in 2026 will depend heavily on completeness, condition, and which specific size variant is offered.
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: March 2014
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Mar 2014 | EUR 800 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 25 (Lot AI_25_30262) Title: L'Invisible
Description:
for six exposures 4x4cm, concealed vest camera, very uncommon version of Stirn for France, in fine original condition Estimate: EUR 1,500 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Nov 2012 | EUR 1,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 22 (Lot AI_22_14342) Title: L'Invisible
Description:
for six exposures 4x4cm, concealed vest camera, very uncommon version of Stirn for marketing in France, in fine original condition Estimate: EUR 1,800 - EUR 2,200 |
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| Nov 2011 | EUR 1,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 20 (Lot AI_20_13015) Title: L'Invisible
Description:
for six exposures 4x4cm, concealed vest camera, very uncommon version of Stirn for France, in fine original condition Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,500 |
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| Dec 2009 | EUR 1,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 16 (Lot AI_16_19487) Title: L'Invisible
Description:
for six exposures 4x4cm, concealed vest camera, very uncommon version of Stirn for marketing in France, in fine original condition Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,500 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Stirn L'Invisible worth?
Public UK auction data is sparse, with a single recorded hammer price of £800 in 2014; a confident current valuation cannot be given from one data point alone.
How much does a Stirn L'Invisible sell for at auction?
The one verified UK hammer result on file sells for £800, but this is wholesale saleroom level and excludes buyer's and seller's commission.
Why is the price range uncertain?
With only one sale in our records, there is not enough data to quote a reliable median or range, so the figure above should be treated as a single reference point rather than a market value.