AN extremely rare Ilford ‘Witness’ camera is waiting to be snapped up when it comes under the hammer.

One of only 350 made, the Ilford Witness is one of the most sought-after cameras by collectors and will be coming up for sale at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn on Wednesday, May 15.

Estimated to sell between £5,000 to £7,000, the Witness was a precision camera on a par with those made by the well-known manufacturer Leica.

In 1945/7, Robert Sternberg and Werner Julius Rothschild, two German-Jewish refugees and ex-employees of Leitz and Zeiss respectively, approached Ilford to finance and market a new camera they had designed.

After a series of delays and unsuccessful prototypes, the camera was finally put into production in 1953, made by Peto Scott Electrical Instruments. However, less than 350 were ever produced.

The 35mm camera is to be sold with the original f1.9 Dallmeyer Super-Six lens and leather case.

For further details visit

www.tennants.co.uk