Warwick Biokam
The Warwick Biokam is an early combined cine camera, projector and printer designed for 17.5mm film, dating from the late 1890s. It is a rare piece of pre-cinema/early cinema apparatus from the formative years of moving-image equipment.
Sales data for the Biokam is extremely limited; the one recorded UK auction hammer result on file is £4,541 from a July 2004 Christie's sale. With only a single data point, today's market value is difficult to pin down, and what a Biokam sells for now would depend heavily on completeness, condition and provenance.
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 2010
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| May 2010 | EUR 15,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 17 (Lot AI_17_11431) Title: Warwick Trading Co. Biokam
Description:
Cinematograph and snapshot camera for 17.5mm centre-perforated film, polished mahogany body, strap, Voigtländer Euryscop 7.7/35mm lens no.63348, film magazine, accessories, original manual (32 pages) 'HOW TO MAKE AND HOW TO SHOW AN ANIMATED PHOTOGRAPH BY MEANS OF THE BIOKAM', camera in very fine condition, original maker's box - beautiful museum piece Estimate: EUR 9,000 - EUR 11,000 |
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| Jul 2004 | £4,541 | Christie's | |
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Auction: MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS (Lot 36) Title: Biokam camera no. 234
Description:
Biokam camera no. 234 Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000 |
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| Nov 2002 | £7,050 | Christie's | |
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Auction: PHOTOGRAPHS, MAGIC LANTERNS AND OPTICAL TOYS AND CAMERAS (Lot 219) Title: Biokam outfit no. 467
Description:
Biokam outfit no. 467 Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Warwick Biokam worth today?
The only verified UK auction record on file is a hammer price of £4,541 from 2004; with so few data points, current value is uncertain and condition-dependent.
How much does a Warwick Biokam sell for at auction?
Documented saleroom evidence is limited to a single result in the low-thousands of pounds, so any current price estimate should be treated cautiously.