Last year, Leica’s Leitz Photographica Auction was really something special. And this year, there doesn’t seem to be as much of a party. However, that’s not to say that the auction house isn’t allowing for bidding on some very special pieces of photography history. There are a few cameras that were designed to go to space even though they didn’t, a former paparazzi’s Leica camera, and even a few very rare prototype cameras and lenses. But even those aren’t as special as another camera.
The piece that I really consider to be the crown jewel this year is the Leica MP black paint. It’s listed as condition: B — but every real Leica photographer would actually rate this an A+. All of us want brassing on a camera like this as it adds to the beauty of the object. Michal Kosakowski, Head of Appraisals – Cameras, tells me that this is an item that was in someone’s attic in Switzerland. In fact, he tells me that most of the cameras went to either Switzerland or America. Mr. Kosakowski isn’t sure who owned it or used it. But it is indeed something both very beautiful and highly sought after.
The serial number is #33 and the camera is estimated to sell for $800,000 in the high range.
The Leica MP was legendary and used by Magnum photographers. 402 of these units were made and only 141 of them were finished in black paint.
I was given the opportunity to hold the camera, which was something very special. It’s big, though not as big as a Leica M5. And it even smells a bit still like someone’s attic. It bound to go into someone’s personal collection but I really hope that whomever buys it runs at least one roll of film through it. Crazy enough, it feels better than most cameras do today. In fact, the viewfinder is brighter and clearer than even some of the more recent Leica cameras I’ve used. It comes with a 50mm f2 equivalent Summicron lens.
Several of the other items don’t really seem all that exciting as much as they are unusual and eclectic. There’s a Hasselblad camera that was designed to go to into space, but didn’t. It includes a special back that could hold 100 shots of film. Everything on it is also naturally bigger to be able to accommodate someone in a space suit.
Then there’s a rare Leica lg Prototype with a raised area for a hot shoe. Mr. Kosakowski told me that sometimes, people do odd things to cameras. For example, he shared with me that something people glue the lens to the body and that’s why it can’t come off sometimes. In this case, that wasn’t done to this prototype. This camera, however, is in impeccable condition.
It’s not clear if there are charities involved for this year’s auction, but last year, Pope Francis’s camera went on auction. That camera sold for 6.5 Million.