The 20th WestLicht Photographica camera auction will take place on Saturday, November 12th, 2011 between 11am and 6pm. The auctioned cameras can be previewed from November 1oth, 2011. Here are the Leica highlights:
Leica I Mod.A Elmar ‘Calfskin’ from 1930
“Very rare and absolutely original Leica Model A, with calfskin body-cover (LEANEKALB) with brown chequered pattern. According to Hahne, only 180 examples of the calfskin Leicas were produced in 1930/31. Many of these have been later replaced during restoration by Leitz with regular vulcanite, when the genuine leather was worn off. So, the number of original calfskin Leicas still in existence today is even lower. Of the brown chequered version only three examples are known to exist, none of the others in such good condition. The calfskin Leica is mentioned in the chapter ‘Luxus Leica’ of the 1930 Leitz catalogue, next to the gold-plated version. It is described as a black paint camera, covered with “coloured calfskin”. In the chapter about the cases, the individual colours available are mentioned, such as “green, red, violet, dark- and light-brown, as well as brown chequered”. The offered camera no.50058 is listed in Hahne as a calfskin Leica. In the Leitz shipping records it is listed as “Leanekalb kariert (chequered)”, delivered to Boesens, Stockholm, on December 23rd,1930. In fantastic, almost like new condition. With original black painted domed Leitz cap.”
Opening Bid: 15,000 EUR | Estimate: 28,000-32,000 EUR
Leica M3 no. 700006
This, apart from Leica M3 no.700001, is the earliest M3 camera known to exist (chassis number – Guss Nummer 179) – the first M3 (no.700001, owned by Mr.Kisselbach) has chassis number 178 – internally hand-engraved ‘700006’, the body is in 100% original, never restored, perfect working condition, it has never been on the market before – a sensational discovery of Leica history !
Opening Bid: 12,000 EUR | Estimate: 20,000-25,000 EUR
Leica M3 black paint (1964)
100% original black painted M3, almost new late body in perfect working order, only very minimal marks from Leicameter visible, some tiny marks on the base-plate, still L-sealed, body cap, made in a batch of 150 cameras (nos.1097701-1097850) – extremely hard to find in this condition !
Opening Bid: 10,000 EUR | Estimate: 18,000-22,000 EUR
MP black paint (1958), no. MP-28
Original and very rare black paint MP with patina of professional use, in perfect working order (CLA by Ottmar Michaely), matching chassis number inside the camera, with black Leicavit MP
Opening Bid: 22,000 EUR | Estimate: 40,000-50,000 EUR
Leica IIIc K Grey W.H. + Hektor 4.5/13.5cm Grey (1944), no. 391620K
W.H. (Wehrmacht-Heer) military camera in fully original condition (grey leather, still with special fiducial points at film plate), with extremely rare and fully original grey Hektor 4.5/13.5cm no.558608 in beautiful B+ condition
Opening Bid: 7,000 EUR | Estimate: 12,000-14,000 EUR
M9-P chrome + Noctilux 0.95/50mm chrome (2011), no. 20/20
Special Edition in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Leica Shop in Vienna. Leica M9-P silver chrome finish with black saddle leather. The top cover is engraved with the “Classic Leica Script” and the serial number of the camera. Each camera has a special edition number on the hot shoe. The camera comes with the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. lens in silver anodized finish. This is no.20 of the edition of 20 units
Opening Bid: 15,000 EUR | Estimate: 25,000-30,000 EUR
M3-P chrome + Noctilux 0.95/50mm chrome (2011), no. 20/20
Special Edition in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Leica Shop in Vienna. Leica MP silver chrome finish with vulcanite cladding and top cover in the typical Leica M3 style. Furthermore, the top cover is engraved with the “Classic Leica Script” and the serial number of the camera. Each camera has a special edition number on the hot shoe. The camera comes with the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. lens in silver anodized finish. This is no.20 of the edition of 20 units
Opening Bid: 15,000 EUR | Estimate: 25,000-30,000 EUR
Leica UW Underwater housing (1970), no. 240-0043
extremely rare, red-painted underwater housing for the US Army, Elcan 90°/2.8, the device is in like new, never used condition, with the original Leitz Canada users manual, special Samsonite case marked ‘KG-24 UNDERWATER 35mm FORMAT CAMERA LEICA UW F42600-80-C-0278’
Opening Bid: 12,000 EUR | Estimate: 20,000-25,000 EUR
KE-7A + Elcan 2/66mm (1948), no. 1294559
very rare black M4 in good and perfect working condition, produced for the US Army with contract numbers on back of top-plate engraved ‘Serial No 1294559 FSN 6720-165-7115 CONT. F42600-71-C-2429 US’, with the extremely rare Elcan 2/66mm no.283-0025 and military contract number ‘VH6760-168-3240’ engraved on front ring (see Lager II page 228), lens in good condition with clean optics (cap), the offered camera was delivered with this 66mm Elcan lens !
Opening Bid: 12,000 EUR | Estimate: 20,000-24,000 EUR
