Underwood Exhibition
The Underwood Exhibition is an early large-format wooden plate camera, a class of equipment associated with the late 19th and early 20th century when mahogany-and-brass field cameras were standard professional tools. It was sold for studio and exhibition-style photographic work using glass plates.
Auction evidence for this model is thin: a single recorded UK saleroom result from 2017 hammered at £156, so any current 2026 value guidance has to be treated as indicative rather than a true market range. At hammer-price level, wooden plate cameras of this era typically trade on completeness of the bellows, lens and plate holders, and a comparable Underwood Exhibition today would likely sell for a broadly similar two-figure-to-low-three-figure sum unless paired with a desirable period lens.
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: October 2017
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2017 | £156 | Flints Auctions | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 285) Title: An E & T Underwood 'The Exhibition' Half Plate Mahogany Field Camera
Description:
1887, with Rapid Symmetrical Retigmat f/8 brass lens, body, G, some deterioration to bellows and lacking one back catch, lens, G-VG; Marked to top |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Underwood Exhibition camera worth today?
Based on the limited UK auction record available, an Underwood Exhibition has sold for around £156 at hammer, so a complete example in honest condition would be expected to price in a similar region rather than command a premium.
How much does an Underwood Exhibition sell for at auction?
Only one verified UK saleroom result is on file, at £156 in 2017, which means the price a given example sells for will depend heavily on completeness, lens fitment and condition on the day.
Is the Underwood Exhibition a collectible camera?
It is collected as an example of a British-era wooden plate camera, but with very few recorded sales it is a niche rather than actively traded item, and value is driven mainly by originality and the presence of plate holders and a period lens.