The catalog says that the box is original, which must mean that the serial number on the box agrees with the one on the lens so there must be one on the lens! There is also a guaranty card in the box. So the lens was clearly sold commercially.
The people at Midland did a lot of experimentation with the lens, especially the mount, for years before it was at last launched. So there may have existed a pre-production batch which was identical to the first commercial run, and could have been sold. But a time lapse of three years seems strange. But numbers could have been alotted in the expectation of a batch which did not happen, and used later, in 1979 or 1980.
The first showing of the auction goods is on Thursday 13th and I intend to be there. Meanwhile, the catalog is available on
www.lpfoto.se.
The old man from the Age of the 9cm Elmar
P.S. It is a pity that they changed the hood the present one is close to useless. L.B.