L.Bloch Le Sherlock Holmes

Hammer Price
€18,600
incl. Buyer's Premium

Estimate
€16,000 – 20,000

This item is subject to margin scheme taxation and the premium is 24% if it remains in the EU. For shipments to a third country (outside the EU), the premium is 20%.

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Condition

Manufacture Year

c.1912

Product number

AI_16_19482

Edmund & Leon Bloch were specialists in disguised and hidden “detective” cameras. The best known of their cameras are the Physiographe cameras disguised as monocular and binoculars. Their Photo-Cravate is a classic, with the camera hidden behind a necktie. But the rarest of their designs is also the simplest. Le Sherlock Holmes is a magazine box camera disguised as a small briefcase. The camera can be operated with the briefcase held at your side. The shutter release is below the camera, totally out of sight, and a small lever at the rear advances the plates. Very rare. Only a handful of examples known worldwide, nearly all in museums. This one is in completely original condition with no restorations - ex collection Jim McKeown