Rare 1958 Leica MP2 Sells for Nearly $1.7M USD at Auction
Only one of six models made with black paint.
A rare Leica MP2 camera from 1958 has sold at auction for €1,560,000 EUR ($1,675,697 USD) as part of the Leitz Photographica Auction in Wetzlar, Germany.
The Leica MP2 was developed in the late 1950s as part of a test series for cameras geared towards photojournalism. Only 27 Leica MP2s were made and only six were created with the blank paint featured in the camera sold at auction. The MP2 was considered a modified version of the Leica M2 that had debuted the year prior.
The camera was celebrated at the time for its innovative motor drive, which enables it to shoot 3.5 frames per second.
“We are particularly pleased that our auction house was able to achieve a result of 1,560,000euros for the Leica MP2 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the legendary Leica M,” Managing Director of Leitz Photographica Auction Alexander Sedlak said.
“The result emphasizes the exceptional popularity that the Leica M system still enjoys today, both among collectors and professional photographers.”
Auctioneers had originally expected that the camera would sell for between €700,000 EUR to €800,000 EUR ($752,265 USD to $859,732 USD).
