The 39th camera auction of the renowned auction house "Leitz Photographica Auction" features various unique collector's items as well as outstanding pieces claiming a place in the history of photography. The event will be held in Vienna on November 20. Bidders from over 100 countries are expected to participate and may look forward to more than 400 lots and exciting bidding battles.

For instance, such a battle is likely to unfold around the Leica MP black paint no. 55 (estimated price € 300.000 – 350.000). The MP was introduced in 1956 at the "Photokina" in Cologne (Germany) and was the only serial model with an individual serial number, differing fundamentally from the usual fabrication numbers. It was mainly the suggestions of famous photographers like Alfred Eisenstaedt and David Douglas Duncan which led to the production of the MP model, as they wanted to make use of the advantages of the Leicavit (available at that time for the Leica IIIf only) on their Leica M cameras too. With a total number of 412 units produced, and only 141 in black paint, the MP is among the rarest Leica models of all time. The Leica MP black paint no. 55 dates from 1957 and comes with a matching Leicavit MP in black paint finish.

With the Leica M3 black paint (No. 959491) the 39th Leitz Photographica Auction offers yet another black paint Leica from the fifties. The camera (estimated price: € 60,000 – 70,000) is in excellent, unrestored condition and comes with a Summilux 1.4/50mm no.1644769 in black paint. Both camera and lens were produced in 1959.

The Summarit M 1.4/5cm First One prototype No. A (estimated price € 120,000 – 140,000) was produced in 1959. The lens is extraordinary not only because of its special serial number A. While it resembles some of the characteristics of the early prototype Summarit 1.4/50mm lenses, this prototype also shows some unique features such as the unusual focusing tab or the reversed knurling on the focusing ring. It may be the first Leica 1.4/50 mm lens with a Leica M bayonet made! The lot also includes a written expertise from Leica specialist Ottmar Michaely.

‘Leitz Photographica Auction’ is one of the world’s leading auction houses for classic and vintage cameras and photographica, and is now firmly established on the international scene. A rare example of the Leica 0-Series produced in 1923 was a sensational highlight at the auction in 2018. The camera achieved a record-breaking hammer price of 2.4 million euros and still holds the record for the highest price ever paid for a camera sold by auction.

Bids for the upcoming auction on November 20 can be submitted in advance – online (www.leitz-auction.com), in written form or by telephone. Live bidding during the auction is possible on site at Hotel Bristol in Vienna or at www.leitz-auction.com and www.liveauctioneers.com.