'Willie Feinberg was not a spy as far as we know," says Charles Leski of Mossgreen Auctions, "but he certainly understood their tradecraft."
Evidence of this is his extraordinary collection of 225 miniature cameras, many designed especially for spying and espionage. These went on sale through Mossgreen in Melbourne on April 13, and sold well, fetching a total of $75,847 (including buyer's premiums, IBP). The average result was 10 per cent above estimates.
Leski says there were about 50 people in the rooms and another 150 participating by phone, on the web and through prior bids. Foreign interest came from Germany, China and the United States.
There was strong interest in Feinberg's spy cameras, with some having the joke-shop quality of Get Smart.
The most obvious example is the camera disguised as a pack of JPS cigarettes, made circa 1970 by Kiev-Arsenal in Ukraine. The cigarettes protruding from the top of the pack are the camera controls; the lens is hidden along the side of the pack. Estimates were $300 to $400, and it sold for $701.50 IBP.
Minox, the former Latvian, now German, manufacturer of sub-miniature cameras, was especially well-represented in the collection. Its spy cameras were used by both sides in the Cold War and featured in the earlier James Bond movies. Among the 50 or so examples listed were some made when Latvia was under Soviet control. One from 1940, in original brown leather case and engraved ''Made in USSR'', sold for $1708 IBP.
Spy camera disguises were many and varied. The Swiss-made Concava miniature automatic camera could be carried on the wrist like a watch. Concava also sold a slim Tessina 17 Jewels rectangular watch, designed to click over the wrist camera, although very few were made. It was valued at $1000 to $1250, and sold for $3965 IBP, the second-best result of the sale.
Binoca, a Japanese manufacturer, made a stylish pair of opera glasses with a 16mm camera hidden inside. It sold for $640.50 IBP.
The Expo camera, made in the US as early as 1905, was designed to look like a fob watch and to be carried in the waistcoat pocket. One in the original engraved silver box, with triangle finder, film cartridge, lens cap and chain, sold for $610 IBP.
Several models were designed to look like transistor radios. The GEC combines a working radio with a Kodak Instamatic 100 camera. Estimates were $300 to $400, but it was passed in. A pen camera was also listed.
One of the most desirable cameras for sale was not expressly designed for spying. The Leitz 250 Reporter 35mm RangeFinder is considered a classic. Average US prices are around $US12,000 ($12,780), but one sold recently for more than US$250,000. Feinberg's 1942 example sold for $6710 IBP, the top price on the day.
Willie Feinberg had a logical reason for collecting miniature cameras. Born in the South Bronx, New York, he did a jeweller's apprenticeship with Tiffany before serving in the US and Israeli armies. After deciding that war was not a good idea, he joined the United Nations and later, through the Australian government, helped set up small industries in countries such as Papua New Guinea.
Much of his travel was on foot to remote jungle and mountain villages, which meant that he could carry only the bare necessities. Miniature cameras were the only choice. He soon became fascinated by their ingenious design.
Feinberg spent his final years in Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands, where he accumulated this collection. He died in 2013.
Vintage cameras of all kinds are a boom market at the moment, with Leonard Joel also holding stand-alone sales in Melbourne. It's a good time to sell. Mossgreen has several consignments marked for auctions later this year, and its managing director, Charles Leski, is after more.
"We would be pleased to hear from collectors who would like to participate - as buyers or sellers," he says.
