A rare Leica 0 series camera from 1923 comes to auction on October 7th, 2023 in Wetzlar (by Wetzlar Camera Auctions):
Specimen of the Leica 0 series (1923) comes to auction on October 07th 2023 in Wetzlar
Two years before the Leica was launched, 22 to 25 cameras of what is nowadays called the Leica 0-series were made for testing purposes, of which 16 are still known worldwide. Based on the assessment of the Leica 0-series by the experts involved, Ernst Leitz II decided in 1924 to serial-produce the camera designed by Oskar Barnack. The “revolution in photography” that was initiated as a result took its course. Therefore, these cameras represent not just the prototypes of the Leica, but the prototypes of all 35mm cameras to this day.
The Leica 0-series cameras are indeed the most significant Leica cameras after the UR-Leica and the highest prices achieved at auctions for photo cameras affect the sales of examples from the Leica 0-series. Among the world’s leading Leica collectors, there is naturally a correspondingly great excitement, when it comes to the fact that such a camera should be supplied to a new owner.
The auction house Wetzlar Camera Auction (WCA) based in Wetzlar, at the birthplace of the Leica camera, has already achieved several world record prices for particularly rare Photographica in recent years.
On October 07th 2023, a specimen from the Leica 0-series will come to auction at Wetzlar Camera Auctions. It is camera No. 121 from the with No. 101 beginning series, hence the 21st example of these cameras made in Wetzlar in 1923. The camera comes from an Italian private collection and was last sold there over 30 years ago.
With this auction, WCA therefore celebrates the return of this extremely important camera, on the occasion of its 100th birthday.
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Photos © Wetzlar Camera Auctions GmbH.
