Leitz Photographica Auction 42 on June 9 and 10, 2023, saw a wide variety of vintage cameras, lenses and photographs up for auction. Among other objects, a rare Leica M3 black paint with black counter dial, as well as a Leica Model A Anastigmat, attracted great interest among bidders. Bids could be placed on site at Leitz Park in Wetzlar, via telephone and online. Standing next to many other historical cameras, a Leica 250 GG Reporter managed to fetch the highest price of the event – 900,000 euros including buyer’s premium. In the field of photographs, the piece “Cagliari” by Massimo Vitali brought the highest auction result – 33,600 euros (also including premium). In conclusion, the event once again lived up to the unique reputation it holds in the world of photography.

Held twice a year, Leitz Photographica Auction is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auction for for vintage cameras and accessories. The fourty-second rendition of the event started on 9 June with the photography auction titled "Modern Times". Among the 100 items up for auction were photographs created by Harold Edgerton, Raoul Hausmann, Imogen Cunningham, Helmut Newton, Ansel Adams and Walker Evans. The earliest piece in the line-up – "Child at Window" by Lewis Hines (1874-1940) – was taken in 1910, 85 years before "Cagliari (Red Umbrella), 1995". The latter photograph was taken by Massimo Vitali, born in 1944, who became famous for his large-format colour photographs. "Cagliari" depicts a holiday scene on a beach in Sardinia, enriched with strong colours and a high level of detail. The photograph was worth 33,600 euros to one bidder - the top price of the photography auction.

Coveted special edition by Terry O'Neill

The auction of historical cameras as well as vintage camera accessories followed on the next day and saw equally extraordinary results not limited to upper price categories. In addition to lots that were already predicted to be the highlights of the auction – for example, the Leica 250 GG Reporter with MOOEV Leica-Motor produced in 1948, which achieved a price 900,000 euros including premium after a fierce bidding battle, and the Leica M3 black paint "First Batch black dial" auctioned for 540,000 euros – items outside the highest price ranks also brought surprising results. A Thambar 2.2/9 cm Tropical Case – a protective lens case made of aluminium – found a new owner for 4,800 Euros including premium – 3,000 Euros above the lot’s above estimate. Furthermore, a Leica MD-22 “Betriebskamera” (the term denominates factory internal use by Leica only) also caused a sensation: Estimated at 20,000 to 22,000 euros, the camera achieved a hammer price of 132,000 euros (including premium).

The Leica MP 'Terry O'Neill' boasted an even higher price jump. Terry O’Neill, a British photographer who passed away in 2019, was also the creator of the photograph titled “The Morning After”, which had fetched an auction price of 7,800 euros the day before. O'Neill's very own Leica MP, released in 2018 as one of 35 Special Limited Edition cameras, was auctioned together with a Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f1.4 ASPH lens and a limited edition print of Audrey Hepburn (showing her with a bird on her shoulder) and originally estimated at 32,000 to 36,000 euros. After an intense bidding duel, the lot achieved a final price of 240,000 euros including premium. Moreover, there was eager bidding for other cameras from the ownership of famous photographers.

The "M2 black paint Walker Evans" (lot 192, estimated at 60.000 to 70.000 Euro) achieved a price of 72.000 Euro, the "M3 black paint John Bulmer" (lot 194, estimated at 80.000 to 100.000 Euro) was worth 102.000 Euro to a collector. Both prices including the buyer’s premium.

72,000 Euros for a good cause

One of Leitz Photographica Auction’s recurring elements is the charity lot – an object auctioned entirely for good cause. The 42nd Auction’s charity lot – a Leica M11 'Brass' – made for another highlight. Inspired by the idea of a Hollywood star with an affinity for photography, Leica produced a camera in 2021 whose outer metal parts are made entirely of brass and therefore show signs of use much more quickly than conventional aluminium models. Only two copies were made. One was given to the actor himself, the other has now been auctioned off for charity.

"The Charity Lot is a fixture in our auction series that attracts a lot of interest from collectors. I am very pleased that with the Leica M11 'Brass' we were once again able to offer a special rarity and achieve an amount of 72,000 euros for the charity Licht ins Dunkel," comments Alexander Sedlak, Managing Director of Leitz Photographica Auction. 'Brass' had been estimated at 12,000 to 14,000 euros. The hammer price was 60,000 euros, the buyer’s premium 12,000 euros – all proceeds will be donated.

See you again in Vienna

As usual with Leitz Photographica Auction, the next auction awaits already. The team of Leica Camera Classics is now accepting cameras and photographs for the next auction, Leitz Photographica Auction 43, which will take place in Vienna on 24-25 November, 2023. As confirmed by the organizers, it will also focus on photographs and cameras by famous photographers.

More information available under: www.leitz-auction.com

Please find further information at:

Leica Camera AG
Ann-Kristin Löhr
Global PR Coordination
E-Mail: Ann-Kristin.Loehr@leica-camera.com