Generally, LEICA
prototype for early M-series Bodies are extremely rare. Even if the owner(s) are
willing to put them up for sale, once they were being snapped up, they are hardly
to be seen again in the used equipment and/or collectors market. They are usually
very very pricey collectibles - purely from supply and demand equation and they preserve
value as well as good to hedge inflation. Here is a very good example of a truly
rare item being put up for auction by Austrian based online auctioneers, Leicahop® in one of the star item in their latest auction - a Leica M3 prototype.
The auctioneer, Leicahop has slowly emerged as one of the most respectable online
auction Company in recent years. These images for case studies on prices of Leica
collectibles are extracted from their old archive library with kind permission from
Mr. Peter Coeln.
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Leica M3 chrome,
Prototype. approx. Year: 1952
" ..Extremely rare M3 prototype, approx.65 of these were produced as test
cameras in 1952/53 - very very few have survived. The camera is in perfect working
condition and all details are original including film advance lever, external frame
counter, early speed dial, shape of self timer, reversed direction rewind knob, backdoor
with film marker punch and ceramic pressure plate. The cameras nos. 005, 0041, 0043
and 0056 are illustrated in Lager vol. 1, p.173-175. This is a wonderful opportunity
to acquire one of the most important cameras in Leica's history...". Other info:-
Approx. Year: c.1952; w/Serial No. Nr.003X - Leicahop®
Just to satisfy the curious minded:
Suggestive start price for open auction: EUR 35.000-00
Hammer Price incl. premium: EUR
54.600-00
NOTE;-
Indicative price here in this site were based original prices published on previous
auction literature/references.
Prices may vary according to gradual yearly premium, supply/demand equations, and/or
other renewed valuation methods.
* Points of reference: Please refer to a classic example of the eventual production of the early
series of Leica M3, 1954 (S/N M3-700131)
as comparison.
Credit: Images courtesy of Mr. Peter Coeln from LEICA Shop®, Austria who also operates a hugely popular Westlicht
Auction House.
Image(s) Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property
of the contributing photographer.
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The M3 Prototype camera featured above
did came along with a companion lens which carries features which categorized as
Prototype lens - The collapsible Summicron-M 1:2 f=5cm standard lens was also being
regarded as a highly collectible item. Leicashop® had opted to separate the lens
as individual item.
Summicron-M 2/5cm
Prototype
The featured lens below is a very rare collapsible prototype Summicron in original
M-mount with dual focusing knobs. Came with a matching front cap. The lens was used
with the prototype M3 cameras featured above. Aprox. Year: c.1952; S/N:- 92013x.
It has an auction start price of EUR 5.000-00; and a hammer price (inc. premium)
of EURO 8,400-00 !
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NEXT- ANOTHER LEICA
M3 Prototype with early serial number
| Leica M3 Index Page | M3
Nomenclature |
Visual Library on Leica
M3 Prototype, 1952; Leica M3 Test model, 1953/4 | A photo showcase on early series of Leica M3 DS bodies:- Leica M3-700131
/ M3-700170 / M3-700000/M3-70031x/M3-70051x | M3 double
stroke chrome 1954~1957 bodies:- Part 1/Part 2/Part 3/Part 4; Leica M3 Single
Stroke 1957~60/1961~66
| Leica M3 Black Paint:-1955/1958/1962~1964/66
/ Case
study on Prices | Leica M3 ELC, 1955/56
Other Leica M3 Variants:- Leica M3 chrome Leica-Technik 57
1954; Leica M3
GOLD Edition, 1956 | Leica M3 DS United Nation Edition, 1957 | Leica M3 Olive Bundeseigentum outfit 1957/ Olive Green Bundeseigentum outfit, 1959 (2 Parts) w/info on high quality M3 Olive Conversion | Leica M3 Betriebskamera/ Betriebsk 1960
| Leica M3 Royal
Dutch Marine Periscope Model,
1966 | Leica M3
Dummies / Riesen-Mode (Giant scale Model); Leica M3 Cutaway Display Unit , 1954
Recommended External Link:
Leica FAQ
| Leica M3 Instruction Manual 1) Location 1 (1.35mb PDF) by Joe Chan; Location 2 (1.2mb PDF) by M.Butkus < Mike@bukus.org>; Leica FAQ
| Serial Number Ref. (Cameraquest):
LSM lenses 1923/1965 | Leica M 1954/1999/Leica M/R-mount RF/SLRs Serial Number ; Leica
M-lens coding PDF (84k) download (Leica, AG); Leica Camera/Leitz Lenses S/N check (requires registration) at
Owners Support@LEICA camera, AG
LEICA MP-Specific
models/variants - Visual Profiles on selective Leica bodies:- Leica MP Prototype, 1955 | MP Betriebsk w/Electric Motor, 1956 | Leica MP-88/MP-150
Black paint, 1957 | Leica MP-167; Leica MP-171/MP-313/old/new
Leicavit visual, 1957 | Leica MP 367 & 368
Dual, 1957 | Leica
MP-375, MP-368 &
MP-386 | Leica MP 'Edition Hermès', 2003 |
Leica MP Betriebsk
0.72x | Evential production model MP 0.72x Black
paint, 2002 | Leica MP classic Kit Set 1 /
Set 2 | Leica MP chrome 0.58X(2 parts) | Leica MP Black Lacquer 0.58x | Leica MP Black Lacquer 0.72x Standard | Leica MP 0.85x
Finder Mag. model | Leica MP Anthracite* Limited Edition Set |
Leica MP LHSA 1968~2003 Special Edition Grey Hammertone Finish (3 parts) | Brief Introduction on Leica à la carte:- Leica
MP Red
Leather 0.85 / Nappa racing Green Leather 0.58X | Others:- Visual case study on counterfeit LEICA MP
; Leica MP Prototype w/Prototype Leicavit-M; Leica MP-3 LHSA;
Leica
MP TITAN, 2007
| Leica MP Nomenclature | Leica MP Instruction manual (1MB PDF) |
Technical Specification (96k PDF)
|
Main Index Page
Leica-M Series Rangefinder camera Models
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