The 22nd WestLicht Auction Preview

Exhibited important pieces Leica

HONG KONG, Nov. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 22nd WestLicht Camera Auction preview at Hong Kong Mandarin Oriental Hotel today, exhibited important pieces and special rarities Leitz/Leica cameras, value over $30 million Hong Kong dollars. The highlight is the legendary M3D owned by the LIFE photographer and Picasso intimate David Douglas Duncan. This camera is considered a precursor for the Leica MP, built for professional photographers, and was only made four times, the "D" for "Duncan" of this model named "M3D" was one and only one piece. The photographer David Douglas Duncan, who is currently 96 years old, used the camera from 1955 to 2007, for his war reporting from Vietnam, among other assignments. His special friendship with Picasso allowed him a very intimate view of the great artist, resulting in seven books. The estimated price is 250,000 - 350,000 EUR (round up to 2.5 million to 3.5 million Hong Kong dollars).

The 22nd WestLicht Camera Auction preview at Hong Kong exhibited important pieces and special rarities Leitz/Leica cameras, presented by Peter Coeln at Hong Kong.

Apart from 2 prototypes of the M3 (estimated prices up to 180,000 EUR), the very first serially produced M3 (1953, serial number 700001), formerly owned by the chief design engineer of Leitz, Willi Stein, will go on sale with an estimated price of 160,000 - 200,000 EUR (round up to 1.6 million to 2 million Hong Kong dollars). And no less than 6 models of the Leica MP from 1958, three of them from the holdings of the Magnum Photographer Paul Fusco (with estimated prices up to 150,000 EUR, round up to 1.5 million Hong Kong dollars ) round out the offers in this auction. Other makers, however, are also represented with high-carat models. For the first time, a public auction includes cameras produced for the Russian space expeditions to the moon.

About WestLicht Auctions

The sensational world record auction this past May at WestLicht Auctions -- a Leica 0-Series achieved a price of 2,160,000 EUR (round up to 21.6 million Hong Kong dollars). The amazing offers of the 22nd WestLicht Camera Auction, featuring many important pieces and special rarities, promise new record results. A selection of about 650 cameras, lenses and accessories, all of the highest quality, will be sold during the 22nd Auction on November 24, 2012 at Vienna.

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