The world’s earliest and most-valuable Leica to be offered at Westlicht’s Nov 17 auction
Oct. 3, 2007
VIENNA— Known for its auctions of Leica rarities and other high-class collectors items, Westlicht Photographica Auctions’ Nov. 17 sale will continue the exceptional reputation thanks in part to the inclusion of two Leica highlights: the O-series Leica no. 107 and one of two existing original gold-plated M3s. Live Internet bidding for these one-of-a-kind cameras will be available at LiveAuctioneers.com.
The star of the auction, the Leica 107 is sure to achieve a world-record result for a Leica. Never before has a comparable camera been sold at auction. In 1923, Leica inventor Oskar Barnack built a small series of about 20 cameras by hand to test his revolutionary design. The Leica 107 was the 7th camera of this legendary production run. It was shipped to New York for the US patent application, and it is therefore also the first-ever Leica to be exported. This sensational lot carries a rather low-key estimate of Euro 280,000-320,000.
The next lot of equal significance and exclusivity is the gold plated Leica M3 no. 834000 which was produced by Leitz in 1956 and delivered to New York that same year. Only two cameras with this gilt finish are known to exist. Last year the second M3, no. 873000, was offered at Christie's with an estimate of Euro 112,000-150,000. Images of the camera offered in our auction have been published many times, but until now the camera has never been available for sale.
These two exceptional cameras almost put our further selection of scarce Leica items in the shadow. In addition to sought-after classics like the 250 GG Reporter, MP Chrome, M3 black and a Leica 72, this auction will see an extremely rare M6 from the 'Sheikh Al-Thani' edition, a prototype double-8 Leicina with clockwork motor, and an exceptional Leitz military binocular periscope dating from 1940. Most of the 400 Leica lots come from a private collection and are in exceptionally fine condition.
The range of rare Japanese cameras covers a Nikon F High Speed for 9 exposures per second which was produced for the 1964 Olympics, a selection of scarce Nikon viewfinder cameras including a sensational Nikon stereo outfit, a Canon Hansa from the first Canon series and the legendary Canon 1950 'Skinner'.
Fans of miniature cameras may choose between a beautiful Le Coultre Compass outfit, a rare Minox A gold, a Minox LX in sterling silver or one of several spy cameras. In addition there is a wide choice of valuable German post-war cameras such as NEUCA, UNCA and UCAFLEX. Hasselblad will be represented with a 553 ELS Space Camera and a selection of prototypes.
Westlicht is also very pleased to offer the first part of an extensive stereo collection. Next to a handpicked collection of rare and exclusive viewers from the early days of photography, cameras and early stereo prints will be auctioned. Of these, certainly the most exciting lots are the magnificent Hirst and Wood ‘Natural Stereoscope’ (staring price Euro 7,000) and the impressive ‘Pontioscopio’ by Carlo Ponti. Following these extremely rare viewers, there are two early stereoscopes which have not been documented until now: the ‘Autosynotométre’ made by Giroux and viewer called ‘Isostereoscopio’ by Carlo Ponti (staring price Euro 3,500). Another premiere of note, the first time we are able to offer one of the few 1900 stereo Sigristes.
Preview the fully-illustrated auction catalog at www.LiveAuctioneers.com where you may also leave both absentee and live Internet bids.
