Online bidding for the Tamarkin Spring Rare Camera Auction is now open
The next Tamarkin Spring Rare Auction will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Online bidding is now open. The auction catalog is available here (PDF version). Here are some of the Leica items offered in the auction:
- Leica M2 Motorized Nr. 948795 in black paint finish with E. Leitz New York Motor Nr. 02588: One of the auction’s priciest lots, estimated at $27,500-$37,500. Black-paint M2s are exceptionally rare, and the first-batch motor adds significant provenance.
- Leica M3 Single Stroke Nr. 1038961 in black paint finish: Estimated at $25,000–$35,000. Single-stroke advance in black paint is a highly sought-after variant among collectors.
- Leica M4 Motorized Nr. 1206808 with E. Leitz New York Motor Nr. 02926: Estimated at $12,000–$16,000. Another motorized black-paint standout.
- Leica M4 in black paint (Nr. 1246334 or 1971 set including Nr. 1267024): Individual or set estimates range $8,000 – $15,000. Black-paint M4s remain collector favorites for their durability and understated look.
- Leica 250 Reporter “GG” Motorized Nr. 353645 with 50mm Elmar f3.5 Nr. 89009 (Rare & Exceptional section): Batch of only 50 units; delivered February 1942 with half-slotted motor coupling. Estimated $6,000 – $7,000. One of the rarest Leica production cameras.
- Leica IIIc K Grey pair (adjacent serials Nr. 389909K & 389910K) and single Nr. 390055K: Cold-weather “K” (Kugellager) variants for extreme conditions. Pair estimated $3,000 – $4,000; singles $1,700 – $2,500. Grey paint and military adaptations make these highly unusual.
- Leica IIIc-IIId conversion Nr. 375556 (rare factory IIId upgrade with red shutter curtain): Estimated $3,000 – $4,000. Wartime conversions like this are scarce.
- Luftwaffe-engraved models (e.g., Leica IIIb/IIIc Luftwaffen-Eigentum examples): Multiple IIIc variants engraved for the German Air Force, estimates $1,000 – $4,000 depending on condition and accessories.
- Early Leica I (Model A) screw-mount cameras (e.g., Nr. 9260, 7568, 8610, 13944 with close-focus 50mm Elmar f3.5 and accessories like FODIS rangefinder): 1928–1929 examples with original early features (dimpled shutter release, baseplate, etc.). Estimates $1,200 – $3,500. These represent the birth of the Leica system.
- 35mm Summilux-RF f1.4 “Steel Rim” Nr. 2166700: Estimated $10,000–$15,000 — one of the highest lens estimates in the sale due to its iconic “steel rim” design and rarity.
- 90mm Thambar f2.2 (Nr. 416506 & 416522, with shade set and soft-focus filter): Famous soft-focus portrait lens from the 1930s/1940s. Estimates $3,000 – $4,300 (complete sets in original boxes).
- 50mm Xenon f1.5 variants (including Schneider-Kreuznach Nr. 2110449 in screw mount with M adapter, and Luftwaffen-Eigentum Summitar f2 examples): Late-production or military-marked; estimates $1,000 – $4,000. The Xenon is prized for its fast aperture and pre-WWII character.
- Other notables: Early 50mm Summicron “LAK9” collapsible (rare earth glass), 50mm Hektor f2.5 nickel, and various 90mm/135mm Elmars/ Hektors in original boxes.