Leica 0 series prototype auctioned for 14.4 million euros

The Leica pilot series No. 105 has a special photo-historical value. Before the serial production of the Leica, Leitz produced the 0 series in 1923 and 1924, a batch of probably 23 prototypes that were used for test purposes. One of these rare devices – the 0 series #105 – was the personal camera of Leica designer Oskar Barnack. It was auctioned off on June 11, 2022 as part of the 40th Leitz Photographica Auction in Wetzlar for 14.4 million euros.

The Leica No. 105 was designed by Oskar Barnack shortly before the First World War as the “Liliput camera” and prototype of the Leica. With the 0 series no. 105, Barnack captured numerous motifs from his family life. The unassuming looking black lacquered camera shows the patina of years of use.

The viewfinder shows the striking engraving on the top: “Oscar Barnack”. Barnack used the camera until 1930 before gifting it to his son Conrad and beginning to use a Leica I Model C with interchangeable lenses. The 0 Series #105 remained in the family until 1960 when it was sold to an avid Leica collector in America.

The auctioned camera also includes the original leather lens cap, a later aluminum top cap engraved with the initials “OB” and a heavily modified Nettel camera that Barnack used for his photographic research studies, as well as numerous documents and letters about Barnack’s camera.

An estimated price of two to three million euros was used for the Leica 0 105. The Leica 0 Nr 105 is the most expensive camera to date with the achieved 14,000,000 euros, of which 20% goes to the auctioneer «Leitz Photographica Auction». The previous record holder was also a Leica from the 0 series, No. 122, which sold for 2.4 million euros at the 32nd Leitz Photographica Auction in 2018.

Further information and the results of the 40th Leitz Auction can be found at www.leitz-auction.com/auction/de/home

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