Vintage Leica expected to set auction record
May 25, 2022 11:51:53 #
A rare Leica 0-Series No.105 camera will be going up for sale at the Leitz Photographica Auction in Germany on June 11th.
The camera, produced in 1923, once belonged to Oskar Barnack, the Leitz Company engineer who designed the horizontal transport 35 mm format camera. Barnach started his career at Zeiss before moving to Leica.
The pre-auction estimate is 2-3 million euros.
The camera, produced in 1923, once belonged to Oskar Barnack, the Leitz Company engineer who designed the horizontal transport 35 mm format camera. Barnach started his career at Zeiss before moving to Leica.
The pre-auction estimate is 2-3 million euros.
May 25, 2022 12:17:26 #
May 25, 2022 12:21:52 #
Bigmike1
Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.
I would love to have a Leica in my collection but even if I was a billionaire I would not pay that price. Owning that camera is strictly an ego trip.
May 25, 2022 12:26:39 #
Wow! Just what I've always wanted, A Leica, pref various owned by the founder of the company! Well, it's old and ugly (like me) but it IS mirrorless! Does anybody around here wanna put in a bid? 
May 25, 2022 12:28:16 #
MDI Mainer wrote:
The pre-auction estimate is 2-3 million euros.
I can’t even afford a M-11.
May 25, 2022 12:32:15 #
A prior example (but without the august history of this body) sold in 2018 for 2.4 million euros.
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/rare-leica-camera-expected-to-make-2-3-million-euros-at-auction-36025
Some detail on Leitz Company history:
https://www.overgaard.dk/leica_history.html
Interesting to see how many iconic news photos were taken with Leica cameras.
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/rare-leica-camera-expected-to-make-2-3-million-euros-at-auction-36025
Some detail on Leitz Company history:
https://www.overgaard.dk/leica_history.html
Interesting to see how many iconic news photos were taken with Leica cameras.
May 25, 2022 12:35:07 #
Longshadow wrote:
Talk about money to burn.....
Not to burn. Buying a modern camera is money to burn as its value plumet just in a short time. The not working too well old Leica cost millions and would still be worth millions in the future.
May 25, 2022 12:48:11 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Not to burn. Buying a modern camera is money to burn as its value plumet just in a short time. The not working too well old Leica cost millions and would still be worth millions in the future.
A collectible only imparts its value when it is sold.
Otherwise it is simply another non-liquid asset.
I'll bet the people in Ukraine are not worried about their "collectibles".
May 25, 2022 12:54:09 #
Also anyone interested can watch this truly historic auction on YouTube via a link from the auction house once the sale starts.
http://www.leitz-auction.com/
Info from the auction listing:
Only approximately 22 of 0-Series Leicas were produced in 1923 to test the market, two years before the commercial introduction of the Leica A. Only around a dozen survived to the present day.
Among these extremely rare cameras, one is of particular historical importance. The 0-Series with the serial number 105 was the personal camera of the designer of the Leica - Oskar Barnack.
This inconspicuous-looking black-painted camera shows a patina of years of use. Some of the parts have been exchanged by the owner. The Galilean finder shows a distinctive engraving on the top: ‘Oscar Barnack’.
The inventor used the camera until 1930, when he gave it to his son, Conrad, and began using a Leica I Model C with interchangeable lenses. It stayed in the family ownership until 1960, when it was sold to a passionate U.S. collector.
The lot includes an original leather lens cap on a string, later aluminium cap, engraved with initials 'O.B.' and heavily-modified Nettel camera that Barnack used for his photographic research studies, as well as numerous documents and letters concerning the Barnack's camera.
The Leica 0-Series no.105 we have the pleasure to offer for sale is not only the most distinguished Leica existing but also one of the major historical milestones from the history of photography.
More images at:
https://www.leitz-auction.com/auction/de/onlinekatalog
http://www.leitz-auction.com/
Info from the auction listing:
Only approximately 22 of 0-Series Leicas were produced in 1923 to test the market, two years before the commercial introduction of the Leica A. Only around a dozen survived to the present day.
Among these extremely rare cameras, one is of particular historical importance. The 0-Series with the serial number 105 was the personal camera of the designer of the Leica - Oskar Barnack.
This inconspicuous-looking black-painted camera shows a patina of years of use. Some of the parts have been exchanged by the owner. The Galilean finder shows a distinctive engraving on the top: ‘Oscar Barnack’.
The inventor used the camera until 1930, when he gave it to his son, Conrad, and began using a Leica I Model C with interchangeable lenses. It stayed in the family ownership until 1960, when it was sold to a passionate U.S. collector.
The lot includes an original leather lens cap on a string, later aluminium cap, engraved with initials 'O.B.' and heavily-modified Nettel camera that Barnack used for his photographic research studies, as well as numerous documents and letters concerning the Barnack's camera.
The Leica 0-Series no.105 we have the pleasure to offer for sale is not only the most distinguished Leica existing but also one of the major historical milestones from the history of photography.
More images at:
https://www.leitz-auction.com/auction/de/onlinekatalog
Note the engraved top of the viewfinder
May 25, 2022 13:47:49 #
Longshadow wrote:
I'll bet the people in Ukraine are not worried about their "collectibles".
I'm not so sure about that. Sellers based in the Ukraine have been very active on eBay lately, trying to sell off their "collectibles". But I am quite reluctant to buy anything shipped from an active war zone. Too much can go wrong during shipment.
May 25, 2022 13:58:58 #
rook2c4 wrote:
I'm not so sure about that. Sellers based in the Ukraine have been very active on eBay lately, trying to sell off their "collectibles". But I am quite reluctant to buy anything shipped from an active war zone. Too much can go wrong during shipment.
In the locations that weren't overrun.
They may have time to liquidate their collectibles.
Others were not so lucky, they simply left them behind.
What's in your bail-out bag?
May 25, 2022 14:04:53 #
I used to think that photograhers, especially the diehard gearheads, were insane in amassing huge inventories of cameras, lenses and accessories that they don't really need. That is until is met a bunch of avid CAMERA COLLECTORS, some of whom are certified "crazy people"! I have seen folks spend inordinate amounts of money on a particular camera to complete a series or specific collection. I know of one case where a guy spent $5,000 on a Contessa Nettle, whatever that is!
I imagine when you get into the multi-jillion dollar range there is a different story. It's like an art collector who does not especially appreciate art or want to display it but purchases it for investment or a profitable resale. Nor being an expert antiquarian or an expert on rare vintage cameras, I don't know if the old came in question will retain their value. One would think that the company would want to retain ownership of that particular camera.
I got to credit the copywriter who wrote the description on the auction page. "Patina" is a cool word. It reminded me of the guys, back in the 70s who purposely rubbed the black paint off their Nikon F bodies to expose the brass so they would be perceived as seasoned photojournalists.
I am sure that oud Leica is authentic. Just looking at it, I can smell the mildew!
I imagine when you get into the multi-jillion dollar range there is a different story. It's like an art collector who does not especially appreciate art or want to display it but purchases it for investment or a profitable resale. Nor being an expert antiquarian or an expert on rare vintage cameras, I don't know if the old came in question will retain their value. One would think that the company would want to retain ownership of that particular camera.
I got to credit the copywriter who wrote the description on the auction page. "Patina" is a cool word. It reminded me of the guys, back in the 70s who purposely rubbed the black paint off their Nikon F bodies to expose the brass so they would be perceived as seasoned photojournalists.
I am sure that oud Leica is authentic. Just looking at it, I can smell the mildew!
May 25, 2022 14:13:52 #
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
I used to think that photograhers, especially the ... (show quote)
The Lot includes a "heavily-modified Nettel camera that Barnack used for his photographic research studies," which I assume this is (but I'm totally unfamiliar with the term):
May 25, 2022 19:37:31 #
Just Shoot Me
Loc: Ithaca, NY
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Wow! Just what I've always wanted, A Leica, pref various owned by the founder of the company! Well, it's old and ugly (like me) but it IS mirrorless! Does anybody around here wanna put in a bid?
I think I have film for that...in my fridge. I'll check.
May 25, 2022 23:01:33 #
Just Shoot Me wrote:
I think I have film for that...in my fridge. I'll check.
Don't you mean ice box?
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