Leica 0-Series No. 112 from 1923 Auctioned for 7.2 Million Euros

Leica celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the iconic Leica I with numerous high-profile events around the globe. Held on 27 June as part of the Leica Century Event in Wetzlar, Leitz Photographica Auction 46 received particular attention, not least due to the 0-Series No. 112, a rare camera of considerable historical significance and monetary value, manufactured in 1923. It is one of the few surviving prototypes of the Leica I and was auctioned for 7.2 million euros including premium[1]. 

Never before has photography developed as rapidly as in the past 100 years, both in terms of its technical innovations and its cultural significance. The Leica I, the world's first serially produced 35mm camera, which was presented to the public in 1925, marked the beginning of this immensely prolific period. Before production commenced in 1925, Leica Camera AG (in its previous iteration Ernst Leitz Werke) had built a few prototypes – the so-called 0-Series with the serial numbers 101-125. 

The existence of almost a dozen of these Leica 0-Series cameras is still known today. As milestones in the history of photography and trailblazers of photojournalism, they are now coveted collector's items. This also includes the Leica 0-Series No. 112, auctioned on June 27 at Leica World in Wetzlar.

Historically significant and expensive 

“It is a truly special occasion for our auction house, to offer a 0-Series in the midst of the 100th anniversary of the Leica I. Even more so, since this particular 0-Series was received by Oskar Barnack[2] after production”, says Alexander Sedlak, Managing Director of Leitz Photographica Auction. According to him, the impact of the 0-Series on modern photography cannot be emphasised enough. “These prototypes were used to develop the trailblazing Leica I, which took photojournalism into new spheres and transformed photography from an extravagant hobby into an ubiquitous phenomenon.”

Estimated at 1.5 to 2 million euros, the Leica 0-Series No. 112 ultimately achieved a price of 7.2 million euros including premium at the 46th Leitz Photographica Auction. ‘A sum that is definitely appropriate for this extraordinary piece of history,’ says Alexander Sedlak. This makes the No. 112 the second most expensive camera ever sold. The world record is 14.4 million euros including premium, which was achieved when the Leica 0-Series No.105 was sold at the 40th Leitz Photographica Auction in June 2022.

About Leica Camera Classics:

The German Leica Camera AG has two branches in Vienna: Leica Camera Austria and Leica Camera Classics. The latter specializes in vintage cameras and has approximately 1,500 devices on display in its store at Westbahnstraße 40. The location also houses the largest spare parts warehouse for historic Leica cameras in the world. Because of this unique inventory, on-site technicians can inspect historic Leica cameras to the highest collector standards and restore them as needed before they are auctioned. Twice a year – in mid-June and late November – Leica Camera Classics organizes the Leitz Photographica Auction, the world's most important auction of vintage cameras, attracting bidders from over 100 countries. In addition, around 5,000 products are permanently offered in the LCC online store.
 

[1] Buyers pay a fee of 20 percent of the hammer price to the auction house.

[2] The inventor of the 35mm camera. 

Please find further information at:

Leica Camera AG
Ann-Kristin Schneider
Global PR Manager
E-Mail:  Ann-Kristin.Schneider@leica-camera.com 

À propos de Leica Camera

Leica Camera AG est un fabricant haut de gamme d’appareils photo, d’objectifs et de produits d’observation. Entreprise internationale, elle peut s’enorgueillir d’une histoire qui couvre plus d’un siècle et demi. Dans le contexte de sa stratégie de développement, elle a étendu ses activités au Mobile Imaging (smartphones), ainsi qu’à la conception de verres de lunettes et de montres de qualité supérieure. Elle est également représentée dans le segment du home cinéma par ses projecteurs.

Le groupe Leica Camera AG se compose de son siège situé à Wetzlar, en Allemagne, d’un deuxième site de production à Vila Nova de Famalicão, au Portugal, et d’un réseau de plus de 120 Leica Stores dans le monde. L’entreprise emploie plus de 2400 collaboratrices et collaborateurs et a réalisé un chiffre d’affaires de 554 millions d’euros sur l’année financière 2023/24.

La marque Leica, c’est une qualité supérieure, ainsi qu’un savoir-faire et un design industriel allemands, le tout combiné à des technologies innovantes. Un élément important de la culture de la marque est la promotion de la photographie par le biais de près de trente galeries Leica, des Leica Akademies ainsi que de prix internationaux tels que le Leica Hall of Fame Award et le Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA).