Stirn Vest Camera (4 exposures, 4x4cm, box)
The Stirn Vest Camera is a late-19th-century German concealed detective camera designed to be worn beneath a waistcoat, with the lens protruding through a buttonhole. This box-form model exposes four 4x4cm images on a circular plate and dates to the 1880s, when it was sold as a novelty hidden camera.
With only a single tracked UK auction hammer result on file, a Stirn Vest Camera in this configuration sold for £1,150 in November 2023, which sets the only firm reference point for what one is worth today. Hammer prices at saleroom level reflect wholesale conditions rather than dealer retail, and values are highly sensitive to completeness of the original case, plate holders and mechanism condition; a single data point should not be read as a definitive market range in 2026.
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 2023
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2023 | £1,150 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 188) Title: A C. P. Stirn 4 Exposure Vest Camera
Description:
1870-1889, serial no. 13562, body, F, shutter working, lens, G, complete with original advertising brochure in German and original maker's box |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Stirn Vest Camera worth today?
The only tracked UK auction sale on record sells for £1,150 (hammer, November 2023), so that figure is the best available reference for current value, though a single result does not establish a reliable price range.
How much does a Stirn Vest Camera sell for at auction?
At UK auction it has sold for £1,150 at hammer, with the final price to a buyer being higher once auction commission is added.
Why does the Stirn Vest Camera command this price?
It is a 19th-century concealed detective camera with limited surviving examples, and collector value is driven by rarity, mechanical completeness and the presence of original accessories.