Leica highlights from the upcoming Westlicht Camera Auction
Here are the highlights of the upcoming 29th Westlicht Camera Auction that will take place on June 11th, 2016:
Leica I Mod.A Elmax
- Year: 1925, Sn. 955
- Rare first model Leica with Elmax lens in fully original condition
- Startprice: EUR 6,000
Leica 250 FF
- Year: 1935, Sn. 150049
- Leica Reporter for 250 exposures, rare first FF version in fully original condition, with two lenses all used by the German Air Force
- Starting price: EUR 6,000
IIIf black ‘Swedish Army’ + MOOLY-C
- Year: 1956, Sn. 822934
- Only 100 cameras with special black Elmar 3.5/5cm were manufactured for the Swedish military with black MOOLY-C no.5571. The IIIf black is not only one of the top collectors items, but also one of the most attractive military Leica cameras ever
- Starting price: EUR 25,000
Leica 72 18x24mm Wetzlar
- Year: 1956, Sn. 357182
- The only half-frame Leica model to go into serial production is the Leica 72. It takes 72 instead of 36 exposures, a very small run of Leica 72 cameras was produced in Wetzlar, this is the last camera produced in Germany in 1970
- Starting price: EUR 16,000
Leica M3 chrome No.700004
- Year: 1954, Sn. 700004
- The fourth production Leica M camera and the second earliest M3 camera we known to exist in 100% original condition ! The camera no.700004 has never been restored, has all the early features and is in perfect working – a sensational discovery of Leica history, it was delivered on March, 24th, 1954 to New York and the first M camera to be exported.
- Starting price: EUR 30,000
Leica M3 black paint
- Year: 1963, Sn. 1078701
- First owners black paint M3 outfit in beautiful, original condition, with black paint Summicron 2/50mm no.1954531, caps, instructions, original receipts for the lens and camera from 1964, checking card with matching serial number and original maker’s box – a beautiful and extremely rare set !
- Starting price: EUR 10,000
Leica M2 black paint Button Rewind
- Year: 1958, Sn. 948635
- Rare camera from the very first batch of 500 black-paint M2 cameras with button rewind unlock in beautiful original condition with a very rare black 8-element 35mm Summicron lens
- Starting price: EUR 12,000
Leica M3D
- Year: 1955/2016, Sn. M3D-100
- Unique camera – a Homage to the 100th Birthday of David Douglas Duncan (who celebrated his birthday in January this year) and the famous M3D cameras built in 1955. It is the original copy of the Leica M3D-2 sold in our 22nd auction for the world record price of 1.680.000 Euro. It is a historical assembly, produced from the last surviving set of original MP spare parts from 1956 with black paint Summilux 1.4/50mm and focusing lever. The camera represents a masterpiece of Leica in completely new and perfect working condition. The M3D was the forerunner of all MP cameras specially designed and built by Leitz for the American photographer David Douglas Duncan. Only 4 of these cameras (M3D-1 to M3D-4) were produced and used for many years by Duncan. Life photographer Duncan (born January 23rd, 1916) is among the most influential photographers of the 20th century. He is best known for his dramatic combat photographs of Korean and Vietnam War and his work with his close friend Pablo Picasso.
- Starting price: EUR 30,000
Few other rare “non-Leica” cameras: