At an auction held at Vienna's WestLicht gallery, the world oldest commercial built photo camera was acquired for 588,613 euros (792,333 dollars)  making it the most expensive camera ever sold.

The auction started at 100,000 euros and some experts predicted an even higher price, but for WestLicht owner Peter Coeln the price fetched was already "sensational."

According to a press release issued by WestLicht the buyer was a Japanese online-bidde, who wished to remain anonymous. WestLicht said that bidders from Korea, Japan, the United States and France participated in the auction.

The camera sold in Vienna was first advertised for sale on September 5, 1839, weeks before another Daguerrotype, produced by Daguerre's brother-in-law, Alphonse Giroux was commercially available. Around 10 of those cameras still exist in museums worldwide.

The camera produces a direct image on a polished silver surface that bears a coating of silver halide particles, deposited by iodine bromide or chlorine vapors. As there was no negative original like in modern photography, no copies of pictures could be made.