Leica News & Rumors » Leica Auction Madness

The “Leica Gun” sold for $119,500

LR admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:12:47 +0000

The Leica Gun sold at Tamarkin auction for $119,500 including buyer’s fee, a world record for a Leica accessory. Here are the remaining top Leica bids:

Other highlights among many were a black Leica MP hammered down at a $72,985, a Leica 50mm Noctilux f1.2 lens that sold for over $20,000, and Ernest Hemingway’s personal Leica camera at $30,500. Buyers from around the globe participated on line, on the phone, live at the auction, and by fax bidding. The buyers of many of the most expensive items were from the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, England, and Germany.

The next Tamarkin auction will be in the Spring, 2012.

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Another Leica M9 Titanium available for sale

LR admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 02:20:41 +0000

The last Leica M9 Titanium on Amazon sold very quickly after my post few days ago. It seems that there is still a strong demand for this digital limited edition. Currently there is another used M9-T for sale on eBay for approximately US $26,326 which is actually few hundred dollars cheaper than the original price of $26,500.

Update: here is the new eBay listing of this camera.

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Over 60 lots of Leica cameras, lenses and accessories will be auctioned with no reserve

LR admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:09:56 +0000

Over 60 lots of Leica cameras, lenses and accessories will be auctioned at the Kaprelian camera auction (with no reserve) on November 19th, 2011. For more info check Ruller's Fine Art Auctions.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – October 27, 2011: Fuller’s Fine Arts Auctions will sell The Kaprelian Collection of Cameras and Photographica in a No Reserve Sale on November 19, 2011 at 11 AM EST. This is Part One of a two part sale. Part Two, to be sold in 2012, will include specialized lenses, camera parts, additional lots of cameras, and the Kaprelian library of camera ephemera.

Edward K. Kaprelian (American, 1913-1997) was an avid collector of photographic equipment and materials during his lifetime, and amassed a large collection of important cameras spanning the history of photography. He held more than fifty United States and international patents. During WWII Kaprelian was the Chief of the United States Army Signal Corps Engineering Labs in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and later was the Chief Engineer at the Kalart Company.

This sale will feature more than 350 cameras spanning the history of photography, including late 19th and early 20th century box cameras, view cameras, tropical cameras, and many early examples of American, British, French and German cameras. There are important early Kodak Cameras in the collection.

Lot 230 will include a group of original prototype, scale production models and designs for a 16mm Victor Movie Camera by the Victor Animatographic Corporation in Davenport, Iowa. Lot 232 consists of a rare original 1949 Raymond Loewy Associates drawing of a prototype design for a 16mm Victor Movie Camera together with related documentation, invoices, and correspondence.

There are several United States Army cameras and a 1930s Japanese army aerial camera (Lot 221); German made Robot cameras and sixteen Rollei Twin-Lens Reflex cameras; and several important subminiature cameras including a Ducati Sogno (Lot 244), a Steky Model III (Lot 248), and Minox cameras. There are more than sixty lots of Leica cameras, lenses, and accessories up for sale. The highlight of this group is (Lot 277) a Leica 250 Reporter in Nickel finish, Model FF converted to GG. Also included are a number of early movie cameras and projectors.

Auction Preview Schedule: Saturday, November 12, and Monday, November 14 thru Friday, November 18, from Noon until 5 PM daily.

Day of Sale: Doors open on Saturday, November 19 at 9 AM. Auction begins promptly at 11 AM.
Fuller’s will accept telephone line requests and absentee bids until Noon on Friday, November 18. Real-time online bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.com. Advance registration is required. Principal Auctioneer is Jeffrey P. Fuller, Director of Fuller’s Fine Art Auctions, President of Jeffrey Fuller Fine Art, Ltd. since 1979, and an Accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers since 1984.

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Tamarkin auction to include the “Leica Gun” and Hemingway’s Leica camera

LR admin — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:57:34 +0000

Tamarkin's rare camera auction will take place on Sunday, October 30 and will feature some rare Leica cameras:

About the "the Leica gun":

Leica Telephoto Assembly RIFLE, known as “the Leica Gun” or, in Germany, as the“Leica Gewehr.” A product of the E. Leitz agency in New York in the 1930s, the Leica Rifle is the rarest of all accessories. Very few were made and even fewer have survived the last seventy years. Originally made for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, the Leica Gun was a favorite among the highest rung of wildlife and sports photographers in the inter-war years. This example is in wonderful condition. The viewfinder is Nr. 123 and is marked “E. Leitz Inc. New York.” The complete outfit includes the special base plate, original case, a 200mm Telyt f4,5 that is hazy, a Leica IIIa and well as an eyepiece magnifier for the PLOOT. Condition: Ex++ Estimate: $65,000 - $100,000.

Also included in the auction: "The Hemingway Leica":

A Leica IIIf Red Dial Selftimer with 50mm Summicron f2 Nr. 1255243 in a watertight case MBROO. Nr. 791842. As is well known, Ernest Hemingway was an avid sportsman who loved hunting and fishing and boating. He spent his leisure time divided between Ketchum, Idaho, Key West, Florida, and Havana, Cuba. The Hemingway Leica was a gift, during an African trip, from Hemingway to his friend, Edison Marshall (1894-1967), a novelist specializing in adventure stories and, in 1921, an O’Henry First Prize-winning short story writer. The Leica then passed after his death from his friend, Dr. Pomeroy Nichols (1932-2002) of Augusta, Georgia, a neurosurgeon and, also, an amateur big game hunter, to Frank Christian, Sr. of Augusta, a local professional photographer, official photographer of The Masters Golf Tournament and of the Augusta National Golf Club, and founder of the Leica Collectors International (LCI), a precursor of Leica clubs that have since spread throughout the world. (It was Christian who had bought the Leica collection of James Forsyth, the collector who tried to launch the Barnack League and who had been the owner, after Barnack’s son, of Barnack’s own Null-Serie Leica Nr. 105.)

Leica MP-31:

With rare black enamel 50mm Summicron f2 Nr. 1944043. Original finish: not re-painted — just beautiful! The 20th black Leica MP manufactured! This camera was originally owned by the famed Leica collector, Dr. Wayne Hull, of St. Petersburg, Florida, a founder of the Leica Historical Society of America and the designer of special Leica ophthalmic laboratory equipment for E. Leitz, Wetzlar. If a camera can be called beautiful, this piece sure qualifies. Note the slight bit of corrosion to the left of the eyepiece. Condition: Near Mint Estimate: $40,000 - $80,000.

Here are some more Leica listings, the full auction catalog (PDF) can be downloaded here:

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Rare Leica underwater housing for M4 rangefinder

LR admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:12:07 +0000

I came across this rare 1970 original underwater housing for Leica M4 on eBay. After 3 bids the price is at $15,200.00 and the reserve is still not met. There is not much information available online for this housing except this PDF file (in Italian). Few years ago, there was an underwater housing for Leica M8, but I have not seen any other models since.

Here is the description from the auction:

"Extremely Rare & in Mint condition, unused, Leica Elcan Navy Type KG-24A Underwater Housing. Originally built for the US Navy. Comes with original carrying case & instructions manual. In total only 50 of these were made, only a few are known to still exist!!! Manufactured by Ernst Leitz Canada Ltd Midland Ontario, in 1970. The subject is mostly an airtight container with a goal, which can enclose a Leica M4. Two side handles facilitate the grip by the use of gloves. On the "top" is: the lever charged, the switch times, and the knob of the focus but it must be done to estimate. Next to charging lever is a porthole to check the frame counter. A sight to sight, style "rear sight", allows you to frame your subject. The two gaps in relief around the outside which is housed inside the lens 90/2.8 Elcano, suggest the possibility of including a hood with snap-on. The inscriptions around the lens Elcano, are: the number of federal standard "Federal Stock Number "(WH6720-00-111-5819) and the type of model for the Marine KG-24A, serial number 240-0043 Elcan 90 f/2.8 lens.This version, painted in orange, was supplied to U.S. Navy divers."

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What’s on eBay

LR admin — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:39:21 +0000

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Leica M9 Titanium for MSRP on eBay

LR admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:30:37 +0000

If you missed to buy one of the 500 limited edition Leica M9 Titanium cameras, there is one available on eBay for MSRP ($26,500.00). It seems that you can also make an offer. The seller has a 100% positive feedback.

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You can get the Leica M9-P now for $10,700

LR admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:52:53 +0000

If you cannot wait for your Leica M9-P pre-order to ship, you can get one now on eBay for $10,700:

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Westilicht Photographica Auctions report

LR admin — Sat, 28 May 2011 23:44:07 +0000

Here is a video of the winning 1.3 million EUR bid for the 1923 Leica 0-Serie camera:

The next auction is scheduled for November 2011. The complete results of the auction can be found here (PDF file). Here is the official press release from Westilicht Photographica Auctions:

19th WestLicht camera auction 28th of May sets new records

Sale of most expensive camera worldwide and most successful camera auction so far

The 19th WestLicht camera auction was held on the 28th of May featuring 721 lots has broken many records worldwide: The highlight was lot number 1 that had an estimated price of between 350.000 to 450.000 Euro. After a tough bidder battle starting at 200.000 Euro, lasting for 20 minutes, the highlight of the auction, the extremely rare Leica of the 0-series from 1923, sold for a staggering 1.320.000 Euro (USD 1.900.000) including premium. The bidder, a private collector from Asia, is with this buy the new owner of the most expensive camera ever sold worldwide.

A Leica MP2 in mint condition, with a starting price of 70.000 Euro was sold for 528.000 Euro including premium.

From the Baringer collection two of the most light sensitive lenses in camera history went for the tenfold of their starting price: The Carl Zeiss Super-Q-Gigantar 0,33/40mm went from 6000 to 60.000 Euro and the Carl Zeiss Planar 0,7/50mm went from 9000 to 90.000 Euro (including premium).

A KGB espionage camera was auctioned off for 36.000 Euro including premium.

The net profits of the Nikon Europe benefit for aid for Japan’s Red Cross fulfilled all expectations and will be donated to Japan’s earthquake aid for victim’s of the natural catastrophe.

94% of the lots have been sold, the total turnover of the 19th camera auction surmounted with 4.429.000 Euro every camera auction ever held worldwide and was hence the most successful in the history of WestLicht.

Highlights of the photography auction

The highlight of the photography auction on the same day was the sale of daguerreotypes by Auguste Rosalie Bisson from 1842. Two quarter plates were sold for 222.000 Euro including premium. This was a record price for daguerreotypes in the German-speaking world. Additionally two of the images were the most expensive ever sold by Auguste Rosalie Bisson.

Another peak performance was reached by a portrait of Egon Schiele by Anton Josef Trčka from 1914. The photograph went under the hammer for 60.000 Euro including premium to a European art dealer. Classics like Vintage prints by August Sander, Lothar Rübelt, Heinrich Kühn, Werner Bischof, Inge Morath. Henri Cartier Bresson and Franz Hubmann were sold for amounts far above their estimated prices.

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New record: the most expensive Leica camera sold for 1.9 million USD

LR admin — Sat, 28 May 2011 16:34:10 +0000

Update: the video of the winning bid and a detailed report from auction can be found here.

Today at Westilicht Photographica Auctions a Leica 0-Serie Nr.107 (1923) camera sold for 1.3 million EUR (1.9 million USD). The opening bid was 200,000 EUR with an estimated price of 350,000-450,000 EUR. AP reports that the camera went to a "private Asian collector after a nailbiting, 20-minute bidding process". This is the camera description:

This is the 7th camera of the Leica 0-series. Only approximately 25 of these cameras were produced to test the market in 1923, 2 years before the commercial introduction of the Leica A. It is the only camera known with “Germany” engraving on the top plate. The factory record indicates delivery to New York for patent applies. This means that this camera is not only one of the major existing rarities, it is also the first Leica being exported. It is the unique chance to buy the most important collectible Leica camera.

The previous record for the most expensive Leica was a MP2 that sold for 402,000 in December of 2010. Some other interesting Leica auctions:

A chrome Leica MP2 + motor sold for 440,000 EUR:

The MP2 was the first experimental Leica M-camera for use with electric motor. Only 21 chrome cameras were produced, less than 10 are known to exist with the original electric motor. It comes from the second batch of 15 cameras (nos.952001-952015), Lager I shows nos. 952003, 952005, 952007, 952015. The offered camera is in near mint and 100% original condition, offered for the first time, with the matching Wetzlar electric motor and the power source handle also in near mint condition, matching rigid Summicron 2/5cm no.1581798

Leica M2 grey sold for 100,000 EUR:

In 1960 twenty M2 grey painted cameras were delivered to the US Air Force in Germany, the offered camera no.1005767 is in 100% original and working condition, with nice patina, only approx.10 cameras are believed to exist, first time to be sold in public auction, with matching Close-focus Summicron 2/50mm no.1784148 (cond.B)

Leica M9 Titan prototype sold for 55,000 EUR:

Fully working prototype no.2 of the famous Titanium edition designed by Walter de'Silva, this camera has an analog viewfinder (the edition of 500 cameras was equipped with LED illumination of the bright-line frames in the viewfinder), complete with the matching Titanium Summilux 1.4/35mm, all accessories and boxes.

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Leica eBay madness

LR admin — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:48:37 +0000

Few days ago this split in two Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm lens sold for $1000 and made the rounds on the Internet. Here are few more interesting Leica items on eBay:

Leica M9 disguised as M8, starting bid $10,999 (there is another one for $17k):

Leica MP black paint with 50mm f/2 lens, 1956, buy now price $200,000 (there is another set for $27k):

Leica KE-7A military camera kit with Elcan 50mm f/2 lens, buy now price $100,000:

Leica MD gray, buy now price $72,501:

Leica MP with serial #365 from 1957 + 50mm f/2 lens, buy it now price $39,200:

Leica M6 + 50mm f/1.4 Brunei Royal Edition Gold, buy it now price $38,999.99:

Leica M1 Olive Bundeseigentum Military Camera, buy it now price $30,690:

Leica IIIG black paint 3 Crowns with 2,8/5 cm, buy it now price $28,500:

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This “Franken Leica/Linhof Stereo M6+Winder+Mini II+Zeiss rig” can be yours for $500,000

LR admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:43:38 +0000

This "Franken Leica/Linhof Stereo M6+Winder+Mini II+Zeiss rig" is available for sale on eBay for $500,000. From the item description:

This is that one of a kind --UNIQUE-- 2011 RFF M Leica Beauty pageant bronze medal winner. It has features that no other Leica M rig in the world has or will ever have, like the ability to shoot on two film types simultaneously on asynchronous triple frame stereo with dual winder film advance. There is laser assisted rangefinder focussing and autofocus with built in flash, mechanical and electronic self timers, data back, five battery types, a total of five view finders, one of which zooms, and two that are angle finders. This rig sports the following brands; Leica (2 red logos), Leitz (red and black logo), Pentax (stereo attachment), MPP/Tewe (zoom finder), Zeiss Ikon (angle finder), Hama (self timer), Rite Aid (AAA batteries), and of course that beautiful Linhof badge (rarely seen on an M6). At full throttle the M4-2 can fire 3 double frames per second, while the mini II can do 1.5. That makes for a grand total of 7.5 frames recorded each second. That is more than a Leica M10! I could list many more features like it's double spirit level etc., but I think the pictures speak for themselves.

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After being listed on eBay for over a year, Leica MP-36 sells for $104,000

LR admin — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:50:39 +0000

This Leica MP-36 has been listed on eBay for over a year (covered here back in May of 2010). Yesterday Petapixel reported that the camera has been sold for $104,000:

"The camera comes with matching black paint Summicron 2/5cm no.1474879, first version with black bayonet mount, a matching black paint Leicavit MP. The camera was the property of famous photographer"

The camera reportedly belonged to Leif Engberg.

Here is a listing of all Leica cameras listed on eBay for more than $15,000.

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Leica M9 dream kit now “only” $24k

LR admin — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 02:09:50 +0000

The "Leica M9 dream kit" was selling for $32k two weeks ago. Some of the lenses are gone and now the price is "only" $23,999.00. Offers are still accepted.

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“Leica M9 dream kit” for sale on eBay for $32k

“Leica M9 dream kit” for sale on eBay for $32k

LR admin — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 01:08:18 +0000

This "Leica M9 dream kit" is for sale on eBay for US $32,000.00 (£19,811.79) and contains:

Leica M9 with thumbs up (new boxed)
Leica SUMMICRON-M f 1:2/28 mm ASPH 6-Bit encoding (new boxed)
Leica SUMMILUX f 1:1.4/35mm ASPH 6-Bit encoding (excellent)
Leica NOCTILUX f 1:1/50mm (mint)
Leica SUMMILUX-M f 1:1.4/50mm (mint)
Leica SUMMILUX-M f 1:1.4/75mm (new boxed)
Leica APO-SUMMICRON-M f 1:2/90mm ASPH (mint)

Currently there are six pending offers, maybe you can try your luck (at a lower price of course)? The seller has 99.3% positive feedback.

See detailed description and more pictures on eBay.

Geek via LUF

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Leica M9 skin sticker for iPhone 4 now on sale

LR admin — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:33:10 +0000

You can now buy the Leica M9 skin sticker for iPhone 4 on eBay for $9.99:

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Leica eBay Madness

LR admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:34:36 +0000

Leica MP-36 for US $106,400.00:

Leica IIIG for US $25,935.00:

Leica M6 Jaguar XK 50th Anniversary Edition

Leica M6 highly polished platinum body

Leica MP Hermes Edition+Summicron 35mm/2 APSH

50 Jahre Leica M7 Titan w/Summilux-M 50mm F/1.4 ASPH

Leica 250 GG with US Military engraving

Leica I Mod. B Rim-set Compur

Leitz 90mm f/1.0

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Leica Auctions

LR admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:42:04 +0000

Besides eBay, there are few other places that have specialized in Leica auctions. The most famous auction house dealing with Leica equipment is Westlicht Auctions located in Vienna, Austria. They have an upcoming auction on May 29, 2010. Some of the more interesting items (complete list available here):

"Italian or French (?) spy outfit of Leica Standard body with Elmar 3.5/5cm, very interesting mechanism built by high standard built in a brown ladies handbag"

"Completely destroyed by fire camera of Prof. Dr. Ankel from Darmstadt (name engravings on top plate still visible). Dr.Ankel received a new camera by Dr.Ludwig Leitz."

"Genius design of a 18x24mm half-frame camera by Leitz developer Adam Wagner, the concept was to built a camera that was still smaller, more convenient to use and simpler to operate. For some reasons this forward-looking camera with slide-out lens feature was never put in production, only approx. 3 prototypes are known to exist, this particular camera comes from the Leitz Museum."

Images and text credit: Westlicht-Auction - while there check also the Daguerréotype Giroux (from 1839) - the first commercially produced camera in the world. The estimated selling price is between 500.000 – 700.000 Euros.

Update: here is another rare Leica M6 at Christies:

More after the break:

There is another smaller auction house in Germany that also deals with rare Leica pieces:

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Rare 50mm f/0.75 lens

LR admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:16:05 +0000

Update: this lens may not be modified with a Leica mount. Contact seller for more details.

Rare De Oude Delft 50mm f/0.75 lens (modified for Leica M mount) is for sale on eBay - you have to be logged in to eBay to see all pictures:

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Leica @ eBay

LR admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:50:01 +0000

Leica Reporter 250 FF Camera No. 1. of total production for $84,600.00:

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