Leica auction

[eyedeebee]

From Amateur Photographer -

"Historic Leica camera set to fetch nearly £1/4m

Monday 22nd October 2007
Chris Cheesman

A rare O-series Leica camera from 1923 – one of around 21 made to test the market – is expected to fetch up to £223,000 at auction next month.

The auctioneers claim the camera, carrying the serial number '107', is in 'excellent and fully working condition'.

It will go under the hammer as part of the Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna, Austria on 17 November.

It is the seventh camera in the legendary O-series, which preceded the launch of the first mass-produced 35mm Leica camera, the Leica 1, in 1925.

'Never before has a comparable camera been sold at auction and we are certain that it will be able to achieve a world record result for a Leica,' said a spokesman for the auction house.

Experts believe it is the 'first ever Leica to be exported', with the word 'Germany' engraved on the camera's top-plate. 'It was shipped to New York for the US patent application,' they explained .

'The O series models are, in fact, the rarest of the Leitz still cameras and no major photographic collection would be complete without an example,' writes Paul-Henry van Hasbroeck in his exhaustive book on the history of the marque, 'The Leica'.

Other gems in the auction include a 'gold-plated' Leica M3 and Oskar Barnack design drawings from around 1932.

For details of the auction, and information on how to make a bid from the UK, visit

http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=8213&refererid=69667&_ssl=off&lang=3. "

[luigi bertolotti]

Woah... the "O" is the DEFINITE collectible for Leica lovers... items are super rare on the market, and many are in museums... I seem to remember that one is even in England, belonging to "King's collections"...
Note, is not the RAREST Leica... the mysterious motorized MP2 of 1959 was "almost officially announced" (and the "Leica tree" includes it) but only 15 items were built...

[DaveB]

Speaking of Leica auctions, Skinner in Massachusetts had a large auction yesterday, October 28, that included over 150 lots of Leica cameras, lenses, accessories, etc.

Prices paid can be seen by clicking on the link below for auction 2383.

http://www.skinnerinc.com/asp/realtimeresultsmenu.asp

For what it's worth...

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by DaveB

Speaking of Leica auctions, Skinner in Massachusetts had a large auction yesterday, October 28, that included over 150 lots of Leica cameras, lenses, accessories, etc.

Prices paid can be seen by clicking on the link below for auction 2383.

http://www.skinnerinc.com/asp/realtimeresultsmenu.asp

For what it's worth...

Funny... the Alpine Elmar sold at this Massachusetts' auction is very close to my one... 300.052 to 300.082

[tummydoc]

I have tentative plans to attend the Westlicht but I'm not certain I shall. The only items I have that I feel I truly over-paid were got either there or Christie's. I tend to get caught-up in the fever