Leica I Mod. A Luxus special outfit
7
Current Bid
€180,000
Total bids: (1)
Register for auction
This item is subject to VAT at the statutory rate of the respective country of destination on hammer price and premium (full taxation), provided it remains in the EU
Estimate € 300.000 – 360.000
Manufacture Year : 1929
serial number : 34808
Among the rarest and most coveted Leica cameras ever produced, the Leica I Model A ‘Luxus’ stands as a symbol of exclusivity and elegance. Manufactured between 1929 and 1931 in a limited series of only 95 units, many of these cameras were later lost, converted, or upgraded—leaving only a handful of original examples known to exist today.
The present camera, is one of the finest preserved examples we have encountered. Featuring gold-plated metal fittings and its original deep red lizard-skin covering, the camera has never been restored and displays only minimal, graceful signs of use—a remarkable testament to its authenticity and rarity.
What elevates this set to true museum quality is the inclusion of exceptionally rare and fully matching Leitz 3x20 'Luxus' binoculars, also gold-plated and covered in identical red lizard skin. Complementing the ensemble are a gold-plated Leitz FINOT cable release, covered in brown woven fabric, and a FOFER-LUXUS gold-plated rangefinder—a combination virtually impossible to duplicate.
According to Leica Archives, this camera was delivered on three occasions: first on 19 December 1929 to Essen, then on 13 January 1930 to Anton Baumann (marked ‘Reisemuster’—travelling sample), and finally on 10 April 1930 to Elberfeld, Germany. Baumann was a prominent Leitz representative, travelling lecturer, and the author of one of the earliest books on color photography, Das Farbige Leica Buch—adding further historical weight to this unique piece.
Offered here is not merely a camera, but an exceptional collector’s ensemble—one of the most complete and best-preserved Leica ‘Luxus’ sets known to exist.