Expert: David Silver - 1/21/2011

Question
I have inherited a Leica camera with it's German leather case and a Kalart Compak Flash Unit...with small Leica Guide and small Leica Pocket Book; all in excellent condition.
I am trying to determine year of camera and value of contents:
>The model number on top of the eye piece reads #350991
>leather case with leather strap, reads on bottom "E. Leitz Wetzlar Germany" and the top reads "Luftwaffeneigentum"
>Kalart Compak Flash Unit has small booklet and well as I can tell, complete flash assembly.
>small, hardcover Leica Pocket Book reads "Theo Kisselbach Pocket Leica Book Third Edition, Pub by Heering.Verlag. Seebruck Am Chiemsee 1955"
>small Leica Guide, orange paper back reads: "Leica Guide, How To Work The Leica and How To Work With the Leica" by W.D Emanuel, 5th American Edition, 1948, copyright 1945, copyright 1947 by Transatlantic Arts, Inc. New York, London.

Your help would be so welcomed in this mystery case.
Many thanks in advance.
>If needed I can attach images per request.

Erick

Answer



Hello Erick,

Serial number 350991 should be a Leica IIIb, a traditional 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany in 1940.  This was a strictly wartime model, and over 32,000 were produced from 1938 to 1941, many of those for German military use.  There is a wide range of values for this camera, depending on the presence and nature of any military markings, and the primary lens.  You mention LuftwaffenEigentum (German air force) markings on the case, but are they also on the camera?  Are there markings on the lens?  The Kalart flash unit and the books have almost no value.  It's all about the camera.  If you have not removed the camera from the case, do so now by screwing out the securing knob underneath.  Then you can better inspect all of the camera body.  If you can provide images, go ahead and forward this message with the pictures (not too big, thank you) directly to me at the e-mail address below, and I'll give you thorough evaluation.  An unmarked civilian Leica IIIb isn't worth that much today, maybe $300 for an excellent example with an appropriate matching Leitz 5cm lens, but marked German military versions jump several times in value, depending on a number of possible characteristics.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes,

David F. Silver - President
International Photographic Historical Organization

silver@photographyhistory.com