113 - John Player Special | Concealed 16mm Camera

John Player Special | Concealed 16mm Camera Estimate: €500–600 Year: c.1975 Serial No.: 60664 Condition: B English: Concealed miniature camera disguised as a pack of John Player Special cigarettes, incorporating a Kiev-Vega 16mm camera mechanism and an Industar-M 3.5/23 mm lens, engraved in Cyrillic. Film advance and shutter cocking are operated by the protruding imitation cigarette. The camera produces approximately 13 × 17 mm exposures on unperforated 16mm film. This example is an unusual bright-metal version. The exact origin of these cameras remains controversial; while traditionally associated with Soviet intelligence use, a number of surviving examples appear to have been assembled outside of regular Kiev factory production. English: A miniature camera disguised as a John Player Special cigarette pack, featuring a Kiev-Vega camera mechanism for 16 mm film and a Cyrillic-engraved Industar M 3.5/23 mm lens. Film advance and shutter cocking are operated via a protruding dummy cigarette. The camera produces images approximately 13 × 17 mm in size on unperforated 16 mm film. This particular example is an unusual bright-metal version. The exact origin of such cameras is disputed: Although they are traditionally associated with Soviet intelligence services, quite a few surviving examples appear to have been assembled outside of regular Kiev factory production.