Cameras/vintage leica
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Question
my father in law has a leica he brought back from wwII it is all grey (both the leather and top) which I hadn't seen before it has along with the usual logos the designations DSP and WH serial# 391517K what would be an approximate value?
Hello Mike,
This was easy. You have a typical Leica IIIc 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany around 1942, that was acquired and used by the German military during World War II. The grey color is most typical, the K at the end of the serial number indicates the camera's shutter has special ball bearings in it for working in freezing temperatures, and the WH stands for Wehrmacht Heer. While regular civilian examples of the Leica IIIc are extremely common (over 133,000 units produced from 1940 to 1950) and excellent ones only sell for around $300 today, these military models are quite uncommon and sell for several times that amount. After all these years, they're a bit unstable and fragile, and due to their historical value they really should be in the hands of qualified collectors and experts. If you can send a few small JPEG images of the camera to me at <silver@photographyhistory.com>, I'll gladly take a closer look at it, and give you a more precise evaluation. It's certainly at least a $1000 item, and probably more depending on condition and details. If your intention is to sell, let me know that as well because I can recommend several appropriate collectors you can contact on your own, or other possible strategies for a reasonably profitable and stress free transaction. I look forward to hearing from you!
Best wishes,
David Silver
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David Silver
Expertise
I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.
Experience
I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:
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