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Meagher Tailboard camera

The Meagher tailboard camera is a 19th-century British wooden plate camera built on the tailboard pattern, in which the hinged baseboard folds down and the front standard runs on rails to focus the bellows. Cameras of this form were studio and field workhorses of the wet- and dry-plate era, intended for glass-plate negatives rather than roll film.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for Meagher tailboard cameras have spanned roughly £74 to £380, with a median around £180 across the sales on file. The most recent result in our data sold for £275 in late 2025, indicating that today a clean, complete example in its original wood and brass is worth toward the upper end of that range, while rough or incomplete bodies sell for much less. Condition of the bellows, ground glass and lens fittings drives most of the price spread seen at saleroom level.

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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: January 2026

Date Price Source
Jan 2026 £175 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Oct 2025 £275 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2023 £362 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Oct 2019 £384 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Oct 2019 £456 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Mar 2003 £176 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 2002 £152 🇬🇧 Christie's
Nov 2001 £129 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 2001 £141 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 2001 £117 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 2001 £258 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 2001 £129 🇬🇧 Christie's
Aug 2000 £470 🇬🇧 Christie's
May 2000 £376 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 1999 £161 🇬🇧 Christie's
Feb 1999 £74 🇬🇧 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Meagher tailboard camera worth today?

Based on UK auction hammer results, a Meagher tailboard camera is typically worth between about £74 and £380, with a median value near £180 depending on completeness and condition.

How much does a Meagher tailboard camera sell for at auction?

Recent examples have sold for prices from £74 up to £376, and the most recent recorded sale in 2025 achieved a hammer price of £275.

What most affects the price of a Meagher tailboard?

Bellows integrity, the presence of the original lens, plate holders and ground glass, and the overall condition of the mahogany and brass fittings are the main factors that move the value up or down.

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