VALÉRY Photo-Étui-Jumelle

Detective camera disguised as a binocular case. Patented in 1891 by Franck Valéry. The formed sheet-metal body is covered with leather. To use the camera, you open the cover of the “binocular case” and spread the two sides apart. Two knee-struts hold the back open and accept a film holder. Rapid Rectilinear lens, non-self-capping guillotine shutter. This is one of the rarest of the disguised cameras. They were made for only a short time, with limited success. Very few examples have survived. The leather shows signs of age typical for this camera - ex Jim McKeown Collection