General Auction including Antiques & Collectables, Gold & Silver.
An English-made Varsity Box No. 2 medium format box camera, designed to produce 3 1/4 inch by 2 1/4 inch negatives. The rectangular body is finished in a black leatherette with a distinctive raised scale-pattern texture. The camera features a top-mounted leatherette carry handle and a metal film winding key and locking clasp on the side. It is equipped with a fixed-focus English meniscus lens and a shutter offering both Time and Instantaneous settings. Two crystalline viewfinders are integrated into the body for portrait and landscape orientations.
A circular metal faceplate around the lens is embossed in black-filled recessed lettering with VARSITY at the top, 3 1/4″ X 2 1/4″ below it, B O X N O 2 at the bottom, and MADE IN ENGLAND on the inner lower rim. The camera is accompanied by its original green illustrated cardboard retail box, which features a large stylized script logo reading Varsity Regd above the words BOX CAMERA. A text block at the base of the box front describes the camera as being fitted with a good quality English made Meniscus Lens, Time and Instantaneous Shutter and large Crystalline Viewfinders.
Length: 12.5 cm
Width: 8 cm
Height: 10 cm.
Condition report:
The camera shows moderate cosmetic wear across the body, with visible scuffs and minor losses to the leatherette covering at the corners and along the edges (photo 1). The metal lens faceplate exhibits significant tarnishing and a loss of black paint within the recessed lettering (photo 1). Minor surface oxidation is present on the metal winding key, side levers, and locking clasp (photos 1 and 2). The viewfinders are intact but contain internal dust, and while the lens appears clear of major scratches, some internal dust is present (photo 1). The original cardboard retail box is in poor condition, showing significant structural damage with several large tears at the lid corners and top edges, along with fading, creasing, and water staining to the surfaces (photo 1). The mechanical shutter and internal film transport have not been tested for functional accuracy.
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