A vast array of cameras and accessories, totalling 1,000’s of items from a Somerset collector, is estimated to sell for £20,000-30,000 in the Charterhouse two day 8th & 9th April auction.
“It is a lifetime collection which took the owner, who lives near Crewkerne, several decades to amass.” Commented Richard Bromell. “Although we live in a digital age, and have done so for the past 20 years or so, there continues to be a huge demand for traditional film photography with collectors and photographers constantly looking for unusual cameras, lenses and accessories.”
Photography has never been more popular. With smart phones incorporating super sharp cameras it is estimated over 1.4 trillion images were taken in 2020, and today nearly 100 million photos are loaded onto Instagram daily.
Cameras in the collection date from the 1920’s through to the late 20th century. Household names including Kodak, Leica, Canon, Nikon, Kodak, Olympus, Pentax, Yashica, Rollei and Voigtlander feature throughout the collection along with many other less known manufacturers.
They come in all shapes and sizes including Minolta sub miniature spy type cameras and Coronet Midget miniature cameras in colourful Art Deco Bakelite cases.
The owner, who recently went into a care home, was brought up in Portsmouth during World War II while his father served in the Royal Navy. As a young man, he followed in his father’s footsteps in the Royal Navy with postings across the world, ending up working for Westland Helicopters in Yeovil, Somerset.
Fascinated with photography and cameras it is estimated he bought, on average, a camera once a month for the past 50 years.
All being sold without reserve, estimates vary from a Coronet Midget at £50-80 to a Leica I camera circa 1926/27 at £300-500. Overall the collection is expected to sell for £20,000-30,000.
Charterhouse are now accepting entries for their busy programme of auctions including this auction dedicated to cameras and accessories on Thursday 8th April, sporting items with pictures and books also on 8th April, watches, Asian art, antiques & interiors on Friday 9th April, silver, jewellery and watches in May and their next specialist sales of classic & vintage cars and classic & vintage motorcycles.
Items for these auctions can be delivered directly to Charterhouse at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne 01935 812277 or click and deliver by contacting them on 01935 812277. Alternatively email photographs of your lots for valuation on info@charterhouse-auction.com
Richard Bromell with the Coronet Midget camera £50-80
Early Leica I camera, circa 1926/27 £300-500
Selection of cameras in the Charterhouse salerooms