Stirn Vest Camera (4 exposures, 6.5cm dia)
The Stirn Vest Camera is a 19th-century German detective camera designed to be worn beneath a waistcoat, with the lens protruding through a buttonhole for concealed picture-taking. This particular variant exposed four circular images, each approximately 6.5 cm in diameter, onto a rotating dry plate. It was a novelty and surveillance instrument of the late Victorian era rather than a general-purpose camera.
Auction evidence for this exact variant is extremely thin: cameraworth.com has a single hammer result on file, a £1,200 sale from May 2005 at UK saleroom level (wholesale, before commission). With no recent data points it is not possible to give a current price range for today's market with any confidence, and what a Stirn Vest Camera is worth in 2026 will depend heavily on completeness, plate condition and provenance. Specialist photographica auctions remain the realistic venue, and values for early concealed cameras of this type can swing widely depending on condition.
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: May 2005
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2005 | EUR 1,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_24824) Title: Stirn Vest-Camera No.2
Description:
rare version for four 6.5cm diameter exposures on a circular plate film, Rectilinear lens in a rotary shutter, with three new 'Dr.Schleussner's Gelatine-Emulsionsplatten' (film plates) in maker's box Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,600 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Stirn Vest Camera worth today?
Public UK auction data on cameraworth.com is limited to a single £1,200 hammer price from 2005, so a reliable current value cannot be quoted; condition and completeness will dominate any price it sells for at auction.
How much does a Stirn Vest Camera sell for at auction?
The only recorded sale in our database achieved £1,200 at hammer in May 2005, but this is a single historic data point rather than an indicative current market price.
Why is the Stirn Vest Camera collectable?
It is one of the early concealed 'detective' cameras designed to be hidden under clothing, which gives it strong historical interest among collectors of 19th-century photographica.