Here are some of the Leica highlights from the upcoming WestLicht Anniversary Auction that will take place on November 19th, 2016 in Vienna:
M3 schwarz lackiert ‘Herbert List’, 1958, No. 915252
Extremely rare and original double-stroke black paint M3 with black film counter and all early features of these un-official pre-series black cameras, the camera was delivered on March 15th, 1958 to Tiranty, Paris (code “Igemo” for black paint M3), with rigid Summicron 5cm no.1510883 (IROOA hood) – only about 90 of these pre-series cameras were produced, much less are known to exist. Camera and lens were owned and used for many years by the famous German photographer Herbert List (1903 – 1975) who worked for magazines, including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Life, and was associated with Magnum Photos. His austere, classically posed black-and-white compositions, particularly of male nudes, taken in Italy and Greece have been highly formative for modern photography, with contemporary fashion photographers like Herb Ritts being clearly influenced by List’s style. He is also noted for his erotic street photography. With confirmation of provenience and the copies of the Leica archive.
Starting price: EUR 24,000
I Mod.A Elmax outfit, 1925, No. 757
Leica I Mod.A with 5-element Elmax lens in beautiful and 100% original condition, export camera in Feet (delivered to OLGILVY in London on August 27th 1925), the camera has still all early features (first version finder, early vulcanite, mushroom shutter release, early base-plate, low profile aluminium knobs) and was never repainted or upgraded (recent CLA by Ottmar Michaely). It comes with early FODIS rangefinder no.3899, the very first FISON hood with rectangular aperture, early unbranded black lens cap, ETRIN case, film cassettes with container and the rare Leitz “LEICA”-KAMERA brochure in red/gold 20p from 1926 (Liste Nr.2238) – this is one of the best Elmax outfits we have seen
Starting price: EUR 8,000
Leica IC Non Standard ‘Luxus’, 1930, No. 48417
The camera from the estate of German collector Willi Thurau has a very interesting history according to the expertise and research in the Leitz archive by Ottmar Michaely:
The original Ic Non Standard Luxus no.48417 with Elmar 3.5/50mm was converted in November 1932 in a Leica II Mod.D and later in 1961 in Leica IIsyn. The original parts of the Ic from 1931 including top plate, base plate and other parts were kept in the factory and used to built-up the offered camera. It comes with green reptile leather covering, Elmar 3.5/50mm engraved ‘417’on the barrel, gold plated lens cap, gold plated FODIS rangefinder, in fine and perfect working condition – with expertise by Ottmar Michaely from July 2007
Starting price: EUR 12,000
E. Leitz New York Leica Gun RIFLE, c. 1938
One of the most rare and unusual accessories in 100% original condition. Special viewfinder engraved with serial number 117 (see Lager VOL.III for no.116) + E.LEITZ INC. NEW-YORK, modified PLOOT mirror housing no. 2972, modified Leica IIIa no.230908 (1937), Telyt 4.5/20cm no.472827 in Feet with hood and cap, complete with extremely rare carrying case RIFUN.
The company E. Leitz, Inc. New York launched the Leica Gun Rifle in 1938 using the codeword “Rifle”; however, this was only produced for one year (1938 to 1939). The “Rifle” was inspired by Commander Attilio Gatti, the well-known photographer of animals in Africa, and was developed between 1935 and 1937 by E. Leitz, Inc. New York, before being introduced to the public in July 1938. Using the “Rifle”, 1938 saw the first attempts to take photographs with long focal distance just as easily and free-handedly as photographers were accustomed to expect from their Leica cameras. Various authors differ in their estimates about the actual numbers of “Rifles” produced: while P. H. Hasbroeck assumes that only six units were produced, J. L. Lager concludes that a dozen were made overall. We consider a number of 10-12 “Rifles”, spread out today over collections worldwide, to be appropriate and realistic.
Starting price: EUR 80,000
E. Leitz New York Leica Gun RITEL, ca. 1938
Second version for the 40cm Telyt of the famous RIFLE in 100% original and perfect working condition. Special viewfinder engraved ‘E.LEITZ INC. NEW-YORK PATENT PENDING’, modified PLOOT mirror housing no. 2486, special extended bottom plate, special leather belt, modified Leica IIIa no.235568, Telyt 5/40cm no.492069 with hood and cap, complete with extremely rare carrying case NUFIR.
This is the only set in this combination we know to exist!
Starting price: EUR 90,000
Leica MP chrome IPOOS outfit, 1957, No. MP-286
the rare camera in beautiful and 100% original condition, clean finder and perfect shutter (CLA by Ottmar Michaely), Leicavit MP in near mint condition, with the original and matching Summarit 1.5/5cm no.1276063, with original MP brochure from 1957
Starting price: EUR 18,000
M6 TTL ‘Al-Thani Photography Competition’, 2001, No. 2752409
Chrome edition M6 TTL 0.85 no.9/16, with orange leather covering, top plate engraved ‘Sheikh Saud Bin Mohd. Al-Thani 2008 Photography Competition Qatar’, matching Summilux 1.4/50mm no.3913135 (special no.09/16). A small series of 16 cameras was produced by Leica in 2001 for presentation to the winners of the Sheikh Saud Photography Competition from 2002-2017. This is the camera for the winner of the 2008 competition – Mr. Mariano Villalba from Argentinia. A rare opportunity to get the rarest M6 edition ever produced. Complete and new with wooden box, all documents, outer box and a print of the award-winning photograph ‘The Grandfather Gangsta’ by Mariano Villalba (30x40cm, signed)
Starting price: EUR 12,000
Leica M ‘Edition 100’, 2014, No. 1945
In 2014 Leica Camera AG was celebrating 100 years of Leica photography. The special Leica M Edition 100 brings together a purely mechanical rangefinder camera for film photography – the Leica M-A – with a digital Leica M (Leica M Monochrom) in one set. Both cameras stand as symbols for the origins of Leica photography and the present day. This is the first time that stainless steel has been employed for the visible metallic elements of Leica products. The outfit also includes three Leica Summilux-M lenses with focal lengths of 28, 35 and 50mm, until the present day the Summilux 1.4/28mm has been offered for sale only in ‘Edition 100’ set, everything supplied in a black anodized aluminium case.
This particular set with the edition number ‘1945’ is one from the small batch of only 101 units. The first set (1913) was sold in our special auction in May 2014 for the opening of the new Leitz Park. The set is complete and unused with all accessories.
Starting price: EUR 28,000
Leica M-A Edition Hammertone Prototype, 2016
For the 25th Anniversary of the Leica Shop in Vienna Leica Camera AG issued a special edition of 25 analoge Leica M-A (Type 127) cameras in grey hammer tone lacquered finish and reworked Leica Meter MR-4 in grey hammer tone finish, with NOCTILUX-M 1:0.95/50mm ASPH. in silver finish with classic outer design inspired by the very first version Noctilux 1.2/50mm with special edition number engraved on each lens – this is the prototype of the unique set.
Starting price: EUR 8,000
ELCAN 4/21mm IMMERSION LENS Prototyp, ca. 1970, No. 251-0001
Prototype ELCAN 21mm lens formula 251 internal immersion lens for submersibles, complete with lens adapter and Leica M4-P no.1543394 and the original data sheet by Leitz Canada, this is the first of very few prototype lenses produced (no.251-0002 is also known to exist)
Starting price: EUR 4,000
Summicron 2/35mm schwarz lackiert ‘Cartier-Bresson’, 1959, No. 1656195
Unique lens used by Henri Cartier-Bresson with his black paint IIIg camera: the black paint 8-element lens (with very clean optics) was transformed from the original M-mount lens (0.7m, red plastic dot) on special order by removing the bayonet ring. Also the focus-tab was modified by removing the infinity lock and an extended lever was built-in. The lens has the same index dots made with nail gloss as the famous 2/5cm black paint collapsible Summicron used by HCB. It comes with both caps and a confirmation of authenticy by Lars Netopil from April 2015.
Starting price: EUR 9,000
