The UK Mail Online internet news
magazine is reporting of what might be the rarest production Leica in existence
and probably the most expensive camera on the planet. Here is what they had to say:
Is this the world's most expensive camera? Last surviving gold-plated
Leica 'Luxus II' - complete with lizard-skin case - set to sell for over
£1.7million
The Luxus II was one of just four special edition versions made in 1932
It was discovered 12 years ago on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow
It will go on sale with its crocodile skin case, at Bonhams in Hong Kong
The whereabouts of other three are unknown, making this incredibly rare
By LEON WATSON
By LEON WATSON
An incredibly rare camera discovered
12 years ago on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow is expected to sell for a world
record price of more than £1.7million
The only surviving model of a Leica
Luxus II camera is gold-plated and encased in lizard skin and was one of just
four special edition versions made in 1932.
The camera has the serial number
88840 and comes with a 50mm Elmar lens, which features a bell-push release.
One of a kind: The incredibly rare Leica Luxus II gold-plated camera without its case
The model is now thought to be the
rarest camera in existance as the whereabouts of the other three is unknown. It is also being sold with an
original crocodile camera case, the first time one has ever come to light.
The Luxus II was gifted to a British
enthusiast after World War Two, used avidly for several decades and then put
away somewhere until the owner took it to Antiques Roadshow for a look-see in
2001. Marc Allum, antiques expert and a
presenter on the show, said it has the potential to be the 'most valuable find
ever'.
The camera is being sold with an original crocodile camera case, the fist time one has ever come to light
'It was a strange experience at the
time,' Antiques Roadshow presenter Mr Allum told the Telegraph. 'It was put in
front of me and I looked at it in complete disbelief.
'I never expected to see a camera
like that.'
Despite having an estimate of
£800,000, it is thought that the camera could fetch a seven figure sum after a
Leica 0 series sold for almost £2million last year.
Antiques expert Marc Alum discovered the camera
during an episode of Antiques Roadshow
Leica, formerly known as Ernst Leitz
GmbH, made their first camera in 1913 which were designed for landscape
photography. The brand went on to become one of
the most iconic camera manufacturers because of their small, compact models in
contrast to the large versions available at the time.
Jon Baddely, camera specialist at
auctioneers Bonhams, said:
'Leica is a legendary name among cameras and has
always had a reputation for cutting edge technology.
'It looked modern and its appeal was
based very much on its portability and the fact that such a compact camera
could produce negatives that could be enlarged.
'This was in contrast to large
formula box camera which were unwieldy by comparison.
'By the early 1930s it was firmly
established as the camera of choice for photographers and the press and was a
key factor in the development of photojournalism.'
Andrew Currie, a spokesperson from
Bonhams, said: 'There were 52,000 models made of the ordinary Leica IIs, but
there were only ever four made of these Luxus Leica IIs.
'It was a luxury version of the
ordinary camera, and the whereabouts of the other three is unknown so this is
extremely rare.
'There may have only been such a
small number made as a way of making it seem more desirable by the company, or
they could have been made to order.
'Every time Leica introduced a new
model it was an improvement on the one before so the features on the Leica II
were an advance on the Leica I.
'I think the key point about the
Luxus versions is that they were gold plated and the body work was encased in
lizard leather.
'I also believe this is the first
time the crocodile Leica case has come to light.'
The camera will go up for sale at
Bonhams in Hong Kong on November 22.
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