Leitz Auction
Starting Price €200,000.00
Estimate
€400,000.00 – 500,000
€400,000.00 – 500,000
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 B
Shipping Information
Bidding for this Auction
starts on October 29th.
starts on October 29th.
serial number
000.01
Condition
A/B
Manufacture Year
1950s
Product number
A03864
An exceptionally rare Leica BOX prototype from the mid-1950s, developed as a compact 18 × 24 mm half-frame camera using 35 mm film with the Agfa KARAT cassette system. Measuring approximately 100 × 64 × 48 mm, it was conceived as an extremely compact alternative within the Leica system.
The offered camera bears the engraved serial number 000.01 and is, according to current knowledge, the only fully functional Leica BOX known to exist. Only one further example is known, a non-working design study preserved in the Leica Museum / Leica Camera Archive.
The camera features a solid metal body with chrome finish and black vulcanite covering. Its construction and external design follow the contemporary Leica M series rather than the earlier screw-mount cameras. The camera is fully operational, with a correctly functioning shutter and clean, clear optics.
It is fitted with a fixed Leitz Summaron 3.5 cm lens. The lens flange also serves as the release mechanism for the removable base plate, an unusual construction detail specific to this prototype. The camera further features an integrated optical viewfinder and centrally positioned shutter-speed control.
Various focal lengths appear to have been considered during the development of the Leica BOX, including 2.8 cm, 3.5 cm and 5 cm lenses. The second known example, preserved in the Leica Museum, is fitted with a Summaron 5.6/2.8 cm and was constructed as a non-working design study.
The offered camera, No. 000.01, is illustrated in “Prototype Leica”, page 389. The second known example in the Leica Camera Archive / Leica Museum is illustrated in Jim Lager, “Leica: An Illustrated History”, Volume I, page 140.
With serial number 000.01, documented publication in specialist literature and only one further, non-working example known, the Leica BOX represents an exceptionally rare Leica prototype from the mid-1950s.
The offered camera bears the engraved serial number 000.01 and is, according to current knowledge, the only fully functional Leica BOX known to exist. Only one further example is known, a non-working design study preserved in the Leica Museum / Leica Camera Archive.
The camera features a solid metal body with chrome finish and black vulcanite covering. Its construction and external design follow the contemporary Leica M series rather than the earlier screw-mount cameras. The camera is fully operational, with a correctly functioning shutter and clean, clear optics.
It is fitted with a fixed Leitz Summaron 3.5 cm lens. The lens flange also serves as the release mechanism for the removable base plate, an unusual construction detail specific to this prototype. The camera further features an integrated optical viewfinder and centrally positioned shutter-speed control.
Various focal lengths appear to have been considered during the development of the Leica BOX, including 2.8 cm, 3.5 cm and 5 cm lenses. The second known example, preserved in the Leica Museum, is fitted with a Summaron 5.6/2.8 cm and was constructed as a non-working design study.
The offered camera, No. 000.01, is illustrated in “Prototype Leica”, page 389. The second known example in the Leica Camera Archive / Leica Museum is illustrated in Jim Lager, “Leica: An Illustrated History”, Volume I, page 140.
With serial number 000.01, documented publication in specialist literature and only one further, non-working example known, the Leica BOX represents an exceptionally rare Leica prototype from the mid-1950s.