The results from the latest Wetzlar Camera Auctions can be found here:
Top results at auction in Wetzlar
Wetzlar (wca). At the second auction of Wetzlar Camera Auctions (WCA) for historical cameras on October 10th, a total of 254 lots came up for auction. The majority of these were Leica cameras.
Under Corona conditions, the auction took place in the Wetzlar Hotel Bürgerhof with only a few floor bidders present. The participation from online bidders bidding live during the auction was all the greater. A total of over 200 customers were connected through this route alone. In addition, bidders connected to the auction room by telephone.
A number of top prices were achieved at the auction with results at an overall high level. “The market for Leica collectibles is still strong worldwide,” said WCA co-owner Lars Netopil in the run-up to the auction.
Right at the beginning of the auction, a Leica III with the prototype of a mechanical rapid winder from 1939 was sold for an astonishing EUR 32,300.
The first example of a Leica IIId ever made with the serial number 360001 from the same year even fetched EUR 49,700.
A particularly unusually high result of EUR 93,200.00 was achieved by an early Leica M3 double stroke from the former inventory of the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) in NATO olive green paint finish from 1958 after a starting price of only EUR 8,000.00.
Some spectacular results were also achieved for rare Leica lenses. The Leitz Summarit 50 mm f1/4 (Prototype of the later Summilux) from 1958, for example, reached twice the estimated price at EUR 49,700. An experimental 180 mm RF lens for the Leica M also brought in an astonishing EUR 39,700.
Another interesting section in the auction catalog were the Leica copies. There was a selection of some quite rare and unusual pieces in this category, coming from a prominent german collection. An extremely rare Perseo Standard by Boniforti & Ballerio from 1948 was sold at EUR 44,700. The Fiumea prototype by Fratelli Borletti from the same year fetched an astonishing EUR 68,400, and the FAF Helios by Giorgio Moretti found a new owner for EUR 80,800.
The early prototype of a NIKON L rangefinder camera with Leica screw mount achieved a particularly spectacular result. Two customers who were connected by phone engaged in an exciting bidding war, so that the hammer finally went down at a fabulous EUR 397,900 for this camera. This is the highest price ever achieved at auction for a Nikon camera in the world.
WCA directors Lars Netopil and David Pitzer (both Wetzlar), and Jo Geier (Vienna) announced their next auction for October 09th 2021. Consignments are accepted from now. Information at www.wetzlarcameraauctions.com.
