Wünsche Mars Detective
The Wünsche Mars Detective is a German-made detective-style plate camera produced in the late 19th to early 20th century by Emil Wünsche of Dresden. Detective cameras of this type were designed for discreet handheld use, housing a plate or roll-film mechanism inside a plain wooden box rather than a folding bellows body.
Documented UK auction activity for the Wünsche Mars Detective is thin: the only recorded hammer result in our data is a single sale at £600 in 2017, a wholesale saleroom figure that excludes buyer's premium. With just one data point on record as of 2026, this is not enough to establish a reliable market price or median worth today, and what a clean example sells for in the current auction market will depend heavily on condition, completeness and bidder interest on the day.
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: June 2017
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2017 | EUR 600 | Leitz Auction | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 31 (Lot AI_31_35363) Title: Emil Wünsche Mars Detective
Description:
wooden detective camera, uncommon 1/4 plate version, mahogany body, very hard to find complete with detachable plate slot and in such good condition Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Wünsche Mars Detective worth today?
Based on the single recorded UK auction hammer result of £600, the camera has demonstrated four-figure-adjacent value at saleroom level, but with only one data point the price a given example will fetch today is highly dependent on condition and demand.
How much does a Wünsche Mars Detective sell for at auction?
The one verified UK auction sale in our history achieved a hammer price of £600, which is the only firm reference point for what this model has sold for; comparable examples could trade above or below that figure.
Is the Wünsche Mars Detective a rare camera?
It appears infrequently in UK auction records, with only a single tracked sale, which suggests limited market turnover rather than a confirmed production rarity.