Leica highlights from the upcoming Westlicht Camera Auction that will take place on November 21st, 2015 (the complete and detailed catalogue will be published 3-4 weeks prior to the auction date):
Update: the catalog is now available online.
Leica 60 unique ‘Stainless Steel’ outfit
Unique set of a pre-series Leica 60 no. P01/24 with three stainless steel Summilux lenses. Summilux 1.4/50mm no.01/24, Summilux 1.4/28mm no.01/24, Summilux 1.4/35mm no.01/24 – with all accessories (hoods, caps, special grey leather case with strap, loading cable, accu etc.) and all papers, guarantee cards, certificate of authenticity signed by Leica CEO Alfred Schopf certifying this set is a unique item. All in fitted RIMOWA suit case, with Leica 100 outer box
Year: 2014
Serial no. 001
Startprice: EUR 35,000
Estimates: EUR 60,000 – 70,000
Leica M4 olive
One of the rarest M cameras in mint and perfect working order! Only thirty M4 cameras were finished in olive green for the German Bundeswehr (numbers 1266101-1266131), this camera is without the ‘Bundeswehr’ engraving on rear of top plate. According to Ottmar Michaely in Wetzlar all outer and inner parts are original, also paint, engravings and leather covering. We suppose that the camera was never supplied to the German Bundeswehr.
Year: 1970
Serial no. 1266126
Startprice: EUR 20,000
Estimates: EUR 40,000 – 50,000
Leica IIIg black ‘Swedish Military’
The camera offered is in 100% original never restored and perfect working condition with very nice patina. It comes with the matching Elmar 2.8/5cm lens no.1636636 with cap. Camera and lens were both delivered together to the Swedish Leitz agent Brandt in Stockholm on May 25th, 1960. For the Swedish military Leitz produced 125 units of the IIIg in satin-finish black paint with serial numbers 987901 – 988025 and were additionally engraved with the three ‘Crowns of Sweden’ on the rear side of the top plate. The Elmar lenses were finished in silver chrome and engraved with the same emblem.
Year: 1960
Serial no. 987953
Startprice: EUR 16,000
Estimates: EUR 30,000 – 35,000
Hektor 2.5/12cm Prototype
Preseries lens of the later 12.5cm Hektor, extremely rare with original hood engraved ‘Hektor 12cm, Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Germany’, caps, clean optics – see: Lager II page 93, Wilhelm Albert ‘Geburtstage der Leitz-Foto-Konstruktionen ab 1927′, page 162, ’10 Jahre Leica Historica Beiträge zur Geschichte der Leica’, pages 100-101, VIDOM 96, pages 11-18 – only approx. fourteen Hektor 12cm lenses were produced, the lens with consecutive serial number 753025 was sold at WestLicht auction 26, November 2014
Year: 1949
Serial no. 753024
Startprice: EUR 16,000
Estimates: EUR 30,000 – 35,000
Leica M3 chrome
Extremely early Leica M3 – the serial production started with serial no.700001, one of approximately 100 cameras with double corner on the top plate, in 100% original condition, shutter crate engraved ‘700045’, in perfect working order, with very early screw mount 5cm Summircon f/2 lens no.920879 from the first batch (1953) with bayonet adaptor, in fine condition (cap) and early carrying case, original instructions from 1954 and a red velvet maker’s box
Year: 1954
Serial no. 700045
Startprice: EUR 26,000
Estimates: EUR 40,000 – 50,000
Leica M3 black paint
Very early and fully original body in beautiful and 100% original condition from the first official batch (959401-959500) in perfect working order with matching black paint Summilux 1.4/50mm no.1703844 (B/A condition, perfect clean optics, cap), the body with early stap lugs, all-black base plate with black locking bar, god/red inspections card with matching body number, original maker’s box with matching serial number!
This early version of the Leica M3 is finished in satin matte black paint. While the total production of the Leica M3 reached almost a quarter of a million units, only 1,410 cameras were originally prepared in black paint finish. The lacquer was by far not as resistant as chrome plating. Thus well-preserved examples in fine original condition are very difficult to find, with a matching Summilux and the original maker’s box almost impossible!
Year: 1959
Serial no. 959474
Startprice: EUR 14,000
Estimates: EUR 25,000 – 30,000
Noctilux 1.2/50mm
Almost new Noctilux 1.2 with clean lenses and perfect aperture blades, smooth focusing, front cap, plastic keeper, metal hood 12503, original maker’s box with matching serial number
Year: 1968
Serial no. 2254424
Startprice: EUR 8,000
Estimates: EUR 15,000 – 18,000
Via Westlicht
