Several rare Leica cameras and accessories will be auctioned off tomorrow at the 31st Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna, Austria. These include a very early Leica I with an Elmax lens, a black-paint Leica M3 from one of the first series from 1959, a Leica MP-292 and a 1944 vintage ‘Rundbild’ outfit for 360° photography, complete with a matching tripod. Amongst the ‘Leica Copies’ is the extremely rare WICA (Wiener Camera) from 1948 with a starting price of $2,250 and an estimated hammer price of between $3,900 and $4,250. Bids can be placed online, on the phone, by fax or in person in the WestLicht auction rooms at Westbahnstrasse 40.

Leica Press Release

The 31st Westlicht Photography Auction Once Again Offers Numerous, Historic Leica Rarities

June 8, 2017 - The 31st Westlicht Photographica Auction begins on June 10, 2017 at 11 AM in Vienna, Austria. The 244 lots include numerous Leica products and exciting rarities.

These include, for example, a very early Leica I with an Elmax lens (Lot 1) from 1925. The camera has a starting price of $16,800 and an estimated hammer price of between $31,300 and $35,800. Lot 75 is a rare Leica camera in excellent condition – the black paint M3 is one of the first series from 1959, has a starting price of $20,150 and is estimated to achieve a hammer price of between $27,970 and $39,150. Another highlight of the auction is the Leica MP-292 (Lot 78). Bidding for the camera from 1958 starts at $20,150 and is estimated to end between $39,150 and $44,750. An extremely rare highlight among the Leica equipment at the auction is the so-called ‘Rundbild’ outfit for 360° photography, supplied to the Germany Army in 1944. Only four of these outfits with the matching tripod are known to exist. This lot with the number 199 will be entering the auction at a starting price of $44,750 and has an estimated value of $78,300 to $100,700. Amongst the ‘Leica Copies’ is the well-known and extremely rare WICA (Wiener Camera) from 1948 (Lot 253) with a starting price of $2,250 and an estimated hammer price of between $3,900 and $4,250.

In addition to Leica products, the auction will also be offering numerous attractive collectibles and rarities from other manufacturers. Bids can be placed online, on the phone, by fax and live from around the world at www.liveauctioneers.com, or in person in the WestLicht auction rooms at Westbahnstrasse 40, 1070 Vienna, Austria.

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