I received some of the results from the first Wetzlar Camera Auctions that took place this past weekend:
Just with the starting Lot number 1 of the auction, which was held at the historic Buergerhof Hotel in Old Town Wetzlar last Saturday, a very special item came up for sale: A Drawing Set containing 91 sheets of original items drawings of a Leica predecessor, dated 1922. Each page signed by Leica inventor Oskar Barnack, the Set went for EUR 47.500,– (including buyer´s premium).
The auction was held by Wetzlar Camera Auctions (WCA), based in Wetzlar, founded in 2018 by Lars Netopil and David Pitzer (both Wetzlar), as well as Jo Geier (Vienna). To the first WCA auction, many of Jo´s and Lars´ long-time clients – mostly dedicated Leica collectors from all over the world – personally appeared, in order to participate in the floor bidding.
The catalogue contained 217 lost of high-class collectibles, of which 160 were produced by Leitz or Leica.
A particularly spectacular bidding battle came to two prospective buyers for a Leica 250GG reporter camera from the year 1938: From a starting price at EUR 40.000,– the lot was finally sold to a telephone bidder at a price of EUR 162.500,—. With the prototype of a special mechanical rapid winder, only two specimens of this version are known to exist worldwide.
The prototype of a Leitz Summicron 5 cm lens from the 1950s achieved a truly outstanding result: After starting at EUR 6.000,– it finally sold at a fabulous EUR 100.000,– – which is a record price for a Summicron lens.
As expected, the lot with the highest result was an original gold plated „Luxus“ version of the Leica model A, which went for EUR 275.000,– , also to a telephone bidder.
The next auction of Wetzlar Camera Auctions is already in the planning stage – consignments will be accepted from now on. Information at www.wetzlarcameraauctions.com.
