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.
