John Dowell, aka King Nerd, is a British designer and artist creating true masterpieces and handmade rarities as an engraver. His clients include the big names in the fashion and luxury watch industries, automobile and motorcycle manufacturers, spirits and audio brands and... Leica Camera. One of his artworks is the offered Leica MP engaged with Leica and Leitz Park motives. The camera is in mint, unused condition and comes with all papers and accessories.

A beautiful original vintage Leica MP with a very late serial number, in very good condition and working order, chassis engraved with the matching number, note the later back door, upgraded rangefinder and single stroke conversion, together with a matching Leicavit MP (condition B+), feet scale Summarit 1.5/5cm no.1430777 with very good optics only showing minimal cleaning marks (UVa filter and front lens cap) delivered to Schmidt, Singapour on 08.03.1960, the camera was also delivered to Schmidt, Singapour, but on 12.12.1958.

The Leica MP Edition Hermès

Leica MP LHSA 1968-2003 35mm rangefinder camera body with grey hammertone body, serial number MP-

Leica MP 0.72 35mm film rangefinder camera body, in silver, chrome and black small grain l...

Rare special edition Leica MP in mint, unused condition, with black/chrome finish and special maroon covering, the lens' preview lever factory removed. Including a special braided strap and matching maker's box.

A Leica MP 0.85 Rangefinder Camera, made in Germany, black, 10 306, serial no 2999835, 2003, shutter working, meter working, viewfinder clear,

A Leica MP Edition Hermés 10 307 Rangefinder Camera, serial no 2921689, 2003, number 367 of a 500 limited edition, shutter working, meter working,

On the occasion of the Republic of China Centennial in 2012, Leica Camera AG produced 100 examples of special Leica MP, finished in gray (colour inspired by the famous Leica M2 gray), and engraved with plum blossom on the top plate. The offered set is in mint, unused condition and includes a body no.4414470 with matching Summilux -M 1.4/35mm ASPH. no.4320395 (matching special number 070/100, engraved with the plum blossom on the hood), complete with all papers accessories and boxes. It is, for sure one of the most attractive modern Leica editions.

Leica UK and renowned photographer Terry O'Neill (1938-2019) collaborated in 2018 to create 35 fantastic special limited edition sets composed of a Leica MP film camera with a Summilux 50mm f1.4 lens and a never-before-seen print of Audrey Hepburn. The offered special edition set features a Leica MP camera body no.5257070, Leica Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH. no.4707174 and a limited edition print with an edition number matching the camera, signed by the photographer, all in mint, unused condition, complete with boxes and accessories.

2002, black, serial no. 2890419, body, G, shutter working, in maker's presentation box only, no outer box

an original vintage Leica MP, completely restored by Leitz in the 1980s, in beautiful cosmetic condition, and good working order, chassis engraved with the matching number, with matching, near-mint Leicavit MP and rigid Summicron 2/5cm no.1597067 (very good optics, front cap)

Original Leica MP in beautiful condition, dual stroke, with proper engraving inside 'P 157', comes with a chrome Leicavit MP. It has been initially delivered to Caracas on 29.07.1957 (codename 'IMOOP' = Leica MP with Leicavit-Base). Both camera and Leicavit in beautiful working condition, also included in this lot is a dual range Summicron 2/50mm no.1836097. The original Leica MP is one of the major rarities in the Leica world. The chassis of the camera was shown in the Lager 'Cameras' on page 194.

2004, black, serial no. 3001957, body, VG-E, shutter working, complete with Leicavit M Note: This lot incurs VAT, due to being imported into the UK,

Celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Leica Historica association, Leica Camera AG issued a limited edition of only 45 sets including a special chrome Leica MP (number 5663020) with blue leather covering and anniversary engraving on the top plate. Complementing the camera is a chrome Apo-Summicron-M 2/50mm ASPH. (number 4980020) with the design inspired by the early Leica M lenses from the 1950s. The offered set is in mint, unused condition and bears a special number 20/45.

Leica UK and renowned photographer Terry O'Neill (1938-2019) collaborated in 2018 to create 35 fantastic special limited edition sets composed of a Leica MP film camera with a Summilux 50mm f1.4 lens and a never-before-seen print of Audrey Hepburn. The offered special edition set features a Leica MP camera body no.5257069, Leica Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH. no.4707161 and a limited edition print with an edition number matching to the camera, signed by the photographer, all in mint, unused condition, complete with boxes and accessories.

An interesting analogue Leica MP, owned and used by British photographer Martin Hartley, in very good condition, base plate engraved with photographer's name and details of the Arctic Expedition the camera took part in, comes with Elmarit-M 2.8/24mm no.4074769, MP rewind crank, two prints 55.5x54cm and 56.5x42cm taken with this camera and signed by Hartley, as well as a bottle of clear Arctic water.

an extremely rare camera from an edition of only 10 (!) cameras issued to commemorate 10 years of the Leica Store Berlin, including an analogue Leica MP no.4983525 in special 'blue stain' finish, matching Summilux-M 1.4/50mm ASPH. no.4659017 (with a correct special number 18/20), complete with strap, all accessories and papers, in maker's box

Leica MP Nr. 235-SP, with Leicavit MP rapid winder

special edition Leica MP in grey hammertone finish, issued to commemorate 35 years of LHSA, complete set including 10312 body, 14443 Leicavit M LHSA no.00459, chrome Summicron-M 2/35mm ASPH. 11616 no.3966548 with grey metal hood, all in near mint condition incl. all accessories and papers, with maker's boxes

It was at the “Photokina” fair in Cologne in 1956 when the new Leica MP was introduced to the public. It was much more than a mere variation of the Leica M3. It was the only serial model which has an individual number, differing fundamentally from the usual fabrication numbers of all other Leica cameras. With a total number of only 412 units produced, the MP is among the rarest Leica models of all time. The black-paint version was produced only 141 times and acquired mainly by professional photographers. Many of the famous Magnum photographers used MP cameras. Today it is among the most sought-after Leicas of all. The idea which led to the production of the MP model came from several well-known American press photographers, who wanted to make use of the advantages of the Leicavit (available at that time for IIIf only) on their Leica M cameras as well. It was mainly the suggestion of Alfred Eisenstaedt and David Douglas Duncan which aroused the interest of Dr. Ludwig Leitz, who was the director of the development and construction department in 1955. The camera offered here is the second Leica MP ever made and the first one in black finish. It is in beautiful condition, with only minimal signs of use around the edges. During a service at Leitz it has received a later type back door (black paint), a quick film loading system and coupling for the New York electric motor drive (a very unusual upgrade!). The camera has been initially delivered to New York press photographer Bob Schwalberg (delivery date 08.10.1956). It comes with a Leicavit MP in black paint finish (with a Bob Schwalberg sticker inside). The camera is also included in Hasbroeck's '150 Classic Cameras' on pages 172-173. Included is a written expertise from Ottmar Michaely. It is one of the most important Leica cameras made. And probably the one that started the trend of black paint M cameras being used by professionals and loved by collectors nowadays.

Leica MP .58 Nr. 2983021

limited edition of 500 pieces (special no.011/500), complete and new with Summicron 2/35mm Asph., maker's box

the rare camera in beautiful and 100% original condition, clean finder and perfect shutter (CLA by Ottmar Michaely), matching number on chassis inside the camera, Leicavit MP in near mint condition, with the original Summarit 1.5/5cm no.1276063, with Leica MP brochure from 1957

brand new and rare (edition of 150 cameras only) body in titanium finish, edition number 105/150, titanium body cap, complete in presentations box, papers, maker's box

Sixty of these MP gold sets were made to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China in 2009. The body is gold plated and covered in red calf's skin. With gold plated and engraved Summilux 1.4/50mm Asph no.4073368. This set does not have the edition number. It is not uncommon in special editions for Leica to produce a few units as production samples, which are outside of the numbering of the edition. It comes with cap, red leather strap and wooden display box.

Black paint MP in almost mint and original, never restored condition, casting number 111802, 'P 99' engraved on chassis. With matching Leicavit MP and black paint Summicron 2/5 cm no.1468952, original ever ready case, cap and the brochure dated IX/56. With expertise by Ottmar Michaely. It is remarkable that camera and lens were both originally shipped together to New York on November 19, 1957 (shipping number 49851/61932). Provenance: Private collection USA. The black-paint version was produced only 141 times and has been acquired mainly by professional photographers. Many of the famous Magnum photographers used MP cameras. Today it is among the most sought-after Leica's. The mere fact that the Leica MP was bought and used almost exclusively by photo journalists allows us to conclude that a second, black-paint MP in this pristine, original state is practically impossible to find.

limited edition of 500 pieces (special no.235/500) in new condition complete with Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. no.235/500, all papers, maker's boxes

Very early and fully original black paint MP (the camera has never been modified and comes with the black Leicavit MP, the typical rewind crank used by Magnum photographer with a very early 9-element Elmarit 2.8/28mm no.2062373) used for many years by it's first owner, Magnum photographer Paul Fusco (born 1930), who started his work for Look. He became an associate of Magnum Photos in 1973 and a full member a year later. Over the years, Fusco also contributed to such publications as Life, Mother Jones, the New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, Psychology Today and Time. His photography often documented social issues and injustices, such as poverty, ghetto life, and cultural experimentation across America. He also worked internationally covering events in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In the late 1990s he spent two months documenting the legacy of the Chernobyl meltdown in Belarus. Fusco moved to Mill Valley, California in the 1980s but is now based in New York City. Many of his photographs are in the Magnum Photos archive currently held at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. For all his work he used this and the 2 other Leica MP cameras (MP-46, MP-228) offered in this auction. ('Peter, it is very interesting and pleasurable to be involved with you in this kind of mythical adventure about these truly beautiful cameras'), included photographs showing Paul Fusco with his cameras and letter of confirmation by Paul Fusco.

unique prototype of Leica MP, engraved on top plate: M6 - P000019 Leica LEICA CAMERA AG GERMANY, originally the name of the later MP should be 'M6-P'

unique prototype of Leica MP, engraved on top plate: M6 - P000009 Leica LEICA CAMERA AG GERMANY, this camera has vulcanite leather covering

Before a small series of 27 MP2 cameras were produced, Leitz Wetzlar had already made tests with an electric motor drive for the M-series in 1956. According to the works records, this camera was given to Mr. Hilgendorf, the constructor of the first Wetzlar Leica motor drive, on November 18th 1957 and noted in the records as 'MP f. motor'. In total only two more of these cameras were made: Leica M3 Betriebsk. Nr.1147 and Leica MP Betriebsk. Nr.1166. 'Betriebsk.' means that these cameras were only used inside the Leitz factory for test purposes. Number 1147 is in a private collection, number 1166 was dismantled and probably destroyed. The motor drive looks like the spring-wound MOOLY and had a key for 'open / close' on the bottom, similar to a bottomplate. The release was already internal but there was still no microswitch to prevent the motor being on while the shutter was wound. This feature was later installed on the MP2 motordrive – similar to the change from first to second model Leitz New York Leica motor. It was constructed for more than 4 exposures per second. Only two more of these motor drives were built, one is in a private collection with M3-Betriebsk.1147, the other motor was built into a cut-away model. This camera is illustrated in Lager 1 page 198, see also: Wilhelm Albert, Geburtstage der Leitz-Photo-Konstruktionen ab 1927, page 204. This camera is certainly the most important M camera ever offered at a public auction!

Leica MP no. 376
chrome, with two-stoke shutter winder, early strap lugs, shutter speed sequence B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, 1000, chrome Leicavit MP rapid winder, the camera shutter crate engraved P.376