LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
The boxy Hasselblad camera, which could be attached to the front of an astronaut’s suit, is estimated at 150,000-200,000 euros ($200,000-$270,000).
NASA sent 14 cameras to the moon during its Apollo 11-17 missions in 1969-1972, but only one was brought back to earth. As a rule, the cameras – which weighed several pounds – were abandoned to allow the astronauts to bring back moon rock; weight being a prime concern on the missions.
The Hasselblad camera, which is being sold by an Italian collector, was used by astronaut Jim Irwin to take nearly 300 pictures during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971.
A plate inside with the number 38 – the same number that appears on the NASA photos – is proof that this camera is the real thing and really was on the moon, said Westlicht gallery owner Peter Coeln.
The auction is composed of almost 600 cameras, lenses and accessories, many by Leitz/Leica, all of the highest quality.
Westlicht gallery, a leading auction house for cameras, has conducted the sale of some of the most expensive photographic equipment in history. In 2012, it sold a Leica camera prototype made in 1923 for 2.16 million euros, a world record.
On Friday, March 21, WestLicht will conduct its 10th photo auction. Numerous icons of photographic history, valuable examples from the early days of photography, an impressive photo archive and Austrian and international classics will go under the hammer. The selection of more than 200 lots was made jointly with expert Johannes Faber. A beautiful selection of rare and looked for photo books complements the auction.
View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com .
ADDITIONAL LOT OF NOTE
Unique chrome Monochrom ‘Ralph Gibson’ edition Leica with red signature on top plate and red leather covering. Westlicht image. Nikon 6mm fisheye lens. Westlicht image. Rolleiflex prototype. Westlicht image. Nikon F High Speed Sapporo. Westlicht image. Heinrich Kuehn Stegemann Studienkamera. Westlicht image.
