Swift & Son Tailboard Camera
The Swift & Son Tailboard Camera is a wooden field camera of the tailboard pattern, a body style common in late-19th and early-20th century British plate photography. Cameras of this kind were used with glass plates and brass-barrel lenses, and were positioned as portable studio and field equipment in their day.
With only a single recorded UK auction hammer result — £204 in 2017 — there is not enough data to draw a reliable price band for what a Swift & Son Tailboard Camera is worth today. That figure reflects a wholesale saleroom level rather than a retail asking price, and condition of the bellows, woodwork, and any fitted lens will heavily influence what a comparable example sells for. Buyers researching value in 2026 should treat the £204 result as an indicative data point rather than a market median.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2017 | £204 | Flints Auctions | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 199) Title: A Swift & Son Simple 4x5" Mahogany Tailboard Camera
Description:
1880, with J. Lancaster & Son f10 brass lens, complete wth J. Lancaster & Son 'See-Saw Shutter', body, VG, lens, VG, shutter not tested; Marked to |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
Frequently asked questions
What is a Swift & Son Tailboard Camera worth?
Auction evidence is limited to a single UK hammer result of £204 in 2017, so any current value estimate carries significant uncertainty and depends heavily on completeness and condition.
How much does a Swift & Son Tailboard Camera sell for at auction?
The one recorded UK auction sale achieved a £204 hammer price; without further comparable results, a reliable typical selling price cannot be quoted.
What affects the price of a tailboard camera like this?
Bellows integrity, the presence of an original brass lens, matching plate holders, and the condition of the woodwork and focusing mechanism are the main factors that drive value.