Cameras/Early Ernst Leitz Camera
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Question
Hi David,
We've recently inherited an early Ernst Leitz D.R.P. camera, serial number 52576. It has a 50mm lens with Leitz Hektor on it. It is believed to have belonged to my wife's grandfather, the illistrator Eugene Iverd. Is it early enough to have been used in the mid-30's? Thanks for your help.
Don
Hello Don,
That would be a Leica I, a simple 35mm viewfinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany in 1931. A fairly common model, with over 69,000 produced from 1926 to 1933, but it retains significant collectible value due to historical significance. I'm afraid a connection with Eugene Iverd does not increase the value, for the very reason that Iverd was an illustrator and not a famous photographer. And besides, the connection is only "believed" within the family history, and that means nothing without provenance. However, if the camera is in truly excellent overall condition, you're still looking at about $500, possibly more, in the collectible camera market. This is a camera that should be in the hands of an appropriate collector or historian who would properly preserve it. The Leica I represents the beginning of the popularization of 35mm photography, and despite the high production numbers, it's becoming harder and harder to find quality examples because so many were returned to the factory eventually for model upgrades. If yours is in original condition, something I suspect because it still has the Hektor lens, I strongly recommend you consider passing it along. If this appeals to you, feel free to contact me at the e-mail address below, attach a few small pictures of the camera if you'd like me to make a more precise evaluation, and I'd be happy to discuss how best to handle a transaction so that the camera ends up in the right hands. It's a little treasure, and it should be under the protection of somebody who will preserve it and make it available for research for future generations. I look forward to hearing from you!
Best wishes,
David F. Silver - President
International Photographic Historical Organization
silver@photographyhistory.com
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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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