The results from the last Westlicht camera auction are now available online. Here are some additional details:
The millionth Leica sells for over 1 Mio. Dollar at WestLicht Vienna! The 24th WestLicht Camera-Auction developed into a major celebration for camera manufacturer Leica, who had its 100th anniversary this year.
The biggest present turned out to be the millionth Leica, a M3 Chrom (estimate: 400,000 – 500,000 Euros), which sold for the equivalent of 1,130,000 US-Dollar (840,000 Euros). This Leica is one of the few official presentation cameras and was originally in the collection of the Leica Museum.
From the 357 objects on offer from manufacturer Leitz/Leica, 100% were sold. Many of those lots achieved prices far above the estimate; some closed at a winning bid ten times the upper estimate or more.
With a winning bid of 360,000 Euros, the Leica IIIf with the serial number 500,000 (estimate: 200,000 – 250,000 Euros) achieved a top result as well.
The Leica I Mod. C Luxus (estimate: 150,000 – 200,000 Euros) changed ownership for 504,000 Euros – another highlight of the Auction.
Among the lots by other manufacturers, the Seischab Esco achieved a particularly considerable rise. With an estimate of 7,000 to 9,000 Euro, the camera climbed to a remarkable 78,000 Euros.
The Charles Chevalier Daguerreotype Camera emerged as the top lot among the historical cameras and sold for 132,000 Euros. The unique and complete outfit from 1842 was estimated at 80,000 – 100,000 Euros.
The 24th WestLicht Camera-Auction closed with a selling rate of 96% and a total revenue of 6,726,060 Euros.
All prices include buyer’s premium.
The next auction is scheduled for March 22, 2014.