Uncommon 0-Collection Leica digicam owned by Oskar Barnack anticipated to fetch over $2.6M at public sale: Digital Images Overview

The fortieth Leitz Photographica Public sale is simply across the nook and to have fun the occasion’s twentieth anniversary, Leica is auctioning off an especially uncommon unit, a Leica 0-Collection digicam owned and utilized by Oskar Barnack, the person who roughly invented 35mm nonetheless pictures.

This yr’s public sale can be held at Leitz Park in Wetzlar, Germany, on June 11, 2022. Whereas different cameras, lenses and equipment are anticipated to be auctioned off, the stand-out providing is a 1923 Leica 0-Collection (unit No. 105) digicam with a 50mm F3.5 lens hooked up. This distinctive mannequin is one in all 23 0-Collection cameras that had been used to gauge curiosity in Leitz cameras forward of the launch of the Leica A two years later.

Of the almost two dozen 0-Collection cameras produced, solely a dozen are believed to have survived over time. This specific unit carries an much more distinctive historical past, contemplating it was owned by Oskar Barnack, whose title is engraved atop the viewfinder of the digicam. Leica says Barnack used this digicam to assist higher perceive how he may enhance future fashions as he photographed the world round him earlier than ultimately giving it to his son, Conrad, when he made the soar to the Leica I Mannequin C, which supplied interchangeable lenses. It remained within the household till 1960, when it was bought to an American collector.

The unit and the included equipment are described as follows by Leitz Photographica Public sale:

‘The lot contains an unique leather-based lens cap on a string, later aluminium cap, engraved with initials ‘O.B.’ and heavily-modified Nettel digicam that Barnack used for his photographic analysis research, in addition to quite a few paperwork and letters in regards to the Barnack’s digicam. The Leica 0-Collection no.105 now we have a pleasure to supply on the market isn’t solely essentially the most distinguished Leica current but in addition one of many main historic milestones from the historical past of pictures.’

The organizers of the Leitz Photographica Public sale estimates this digicam, whose bidding will begin at €1,000,000, will go for round €2,000,000 ($2.2M) to €3,000,000 ($3.3M), which is inside the vary of a earlier 0-Collection mannequin that bought for a record-breaking €2,400,000 ($2.6M) again in 2018.

If you happen to’re considering studying extra concerning the fortieth Leitz Photographica Public sale, head on over to the Leitz Public sale web site.