Leitz Auction
Starting Price €80,000.00
Estimate
€140,000.00 – 160,000
€140,000.00 – 160,000
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
Shipping Category F
Shipping Information
Bidding for this Auction
starts on October 29th.
starts on October 29th.
serial number
391432K
Condition
B/A
Manufacture Year
1943
Product number
A03991
An exceptionally rare and remarkably complete German military panoramic outfit, the so-called Rundbildkamera E2, developed by Leitz for artillery observation and panoramic photography during the Second World War.
At the heart of the outfit is the grey-painted Leica IIIcK W.H. no. 391432K, retaining the special fiducial points in the film gate and the white “K” marking on the shutter curtain. According to the Leica delivery records, the camera was delivered to Berlin on 1 July 1943 as LOOPN “W.H.”, shipment no. 9473.
It is accompanied by a Leitz Elmar 3.5/5cm W.H. no. 583862, delivered to Berlin on 3 February 1944, shipment no. 9773, and a grey-painted Hektor 4.5/13.5cm no. 576078, delivered to Berlin on 4 September 1944, shipment no. 9778. Also included is the extremely rare special grey, reversed VIOOH W.H. finder with reticle for the 13.5cm focal length; the finder has been restored.
The camera is mounted on the matching wooden Leitz tripod with “beh” coded aiming circle. The outfit further includes a Leitz S.F.14 Z.Gi. scissor telescope with special ocular adapter, allowing photographs to be taken through the telescope with the Leica and 5cm Elmar.
The Rundbildkamera E2 was developed as a dedicated artillery photographic system. The two fiducial points in the film gate produced reference notches on the negatives, while the “K” designation indicated the cold-weather, kältefest version with ball-bearing shutter mechanism.
As a complete outfit with its case, only one other example is known to exist.
At the heart of the outfit is the grey-painted Leica IIIcK W.H. no. 391432K, retaining the special fiducial points in the film gate and the white “K” marking on the shutter curtain. According to the Leica delivery records, the camera was delivered to Berlin on 1 July 1943 as LOOPN “W.H.”, shipment no. 9473.
It is accompanied by a Leitz Elmar 3.5/5cm W.H. no. 583862, delivered to Berlin on 3 February 1944, shipment no. 9773, and a grey-painted Hektor 4.5/13.5cm no. 576078, delivered to Berlin on 4 September 1944, shipment no. 9778. Also included is the extremely rare special grey, reversed VIOOH W.H. finder with reticle for the 13.5cm focal length; the finder has been restored.
The camera is mounted on the matching wooden Leitz tripod with “beh” coded aiming circle. The outfit further includes a Leitz S.F.14 Z.Gi. scissor telescope with special ocular adapter, allowing photographs to be taken through the telescope with the Leica and 5cm Elmar.
The Rundbildkamera E2 was developed as a dedicated artillery photographic system. The two fiducial points in the film gate produced reference notches on the negatives, while the “K” designation indicated the cold-weather, kältefest version with ball-bearing shutter mechanism.
As a complete outfit with its case, only one other example is known to exist.