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Lot Essay
Only five examples of the Aspis handbag camera are currently known: one in George Eastman House, USA; one in the Abring Collection, Germany; one shown in Lothrop and Auer; one in a private collection; and this example. The camera was produced in two styles, an upright or a horizontal-shaped handbag.
Samuel Aspis was granted British patent number 250468 on April 15 1926 and United States patent number 1,656,852 of January 17 1928 both describing and showing (see extract, right) the handbag camera. Aspis's British patent claimed the following:
1. An improved combination of hand-bag, lady's vanity case with a collapsible camera where the camera forms an integral part of the handbag.
2. The provision of flap to conceal the camera when it is collapsed
3. The improved arrangement combining a lady's handbag and a collapsible photographic camera.
Samuel Aspis was granted British patent number 250468 on April 15 1926 and United States patent number 1,656,852 of January 17 1928 both describing and showing (see extract, right) the handbag camera. Aspis's British patent claimed the following:
1. An improved combination of hand-bag, lady's vanity case with a collapsible camera where the camera forms an integral part of the handbag.
2. The provision of flap to conceal the camera when it is collapsed
3. The improved arrangement combining a lady's handbag and a collapsible photographic camera.