An extremely rare early spy watch camera made in Birmingham in the 19th century has been sold at auction for a massive £21,600.

It had been expected to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000 when it went under the hammer at Bonhams in Knowle on May 9.

Auctioneers Bonhams said the watch was brought into them by a gentleman whose grandfather had originally owned it.

He was a cabinetmaker at the Birmingham-based firm, J. Lancaster & Son, probably working on the many wooden cameras sold by the company.

Lionel Hughes, Bonhams: "This is a truly exceptional piece, and the price achieved at Bonhams today reflects this."

The vendor noticed that among his collection was what looked like an ordinary nickel-plated pocket watch case when closed.

However, when he opened it he discovered that it actually contained a tiny camera inside.

Lionel Hughes, Bonhams' camera specialist, said he was delighted to come across the piece.

"This is a truly exceptional piece, and the price achieved at Bonhams today reflects this," he explained.

"The Lancaster Watch Camera was patented in October 1886 and made until 1890.

"Such tiny cameras were the forerunners for the 'spy' camera - a mechanism disguised as a different object.

"However, it would have been very inconvenient to use as four very small catches had to be released in order to remove the glass screen and to fit a separate metal sensitised material holder for each exposure.

"As a result, the model sadly sold badly and is much rarer than the improved version which came on the market in 1890.

"The ladies' pattern is therefore particularly special, and only four original models are known to exist. The holders are also very rare."

The article Victorian spy camera makes £21,600 at auction originally appeared on 999 Today