Leitz Ur-Leica
The Ur-Leica is the prototype 35mm camera built by Oskar Barnack at Leitz in Wetzlar around 1913–1914, and is regarded as the starting point of the Leica line. Original examples are museum pieces, so the Ur-Leicas that change hands at auction today are factory replicas and non-working dummies produced by Leitz and third parties for display and collector use.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for Ur-Leica replicas and dummies have ranged from about £260 to £1,800, with a median around £340. The June 2025 result at £1,800 stands well above the earlier cluster in the £260–£600 band, suggesting that in today's saleroom the specific replica type (Arces, Oberländer, Sweden, gold) and presentation case matter far more than the base concept when deciding what one of these pieces is worth.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dummy | — | — | 4 | £300 – £2,000 |
| replica Arces | — | — | 1 | £1,800 – £1,800 |
| replica gold | — | — | 1 | £260 – £260 |
| replica Oberländer | — | — | 0 | — |
| replica Sweden | — | — | 0 | — |
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: June 2025
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
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| Jun 2025 | EUR 1,800 | Leitz Auction | replica Arces | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 46 (Lot A01854) Title: Ur-Leica Replica Arces
Description:
One of 31 replicas by Italian Alberico Arces, very well made and in good condition (some wear of the paint on the edges). Alberico Arces was a precision mechanic and the boss of the local Italian Telecom State Company’s 'Telex repair and maintenance shop'. In this capacity, he headed a small team of highly specialized precision mechanics and had all kinds of fine metal machining tools at his disposal. To keep his team busy, Arces had the idea to let them make UR-Leica replicas based on drawings he had found. The result was so good that he developed the 'business' with the enthusiastic help of his team. His 0-Series replicas existed nearly 20 years before the costly Leica ones. Next to the normal or brassy UR-Leica replicas, he made tubus and folding viewfinder versions of the 0-Series. Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,400 |
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| Jan 2025 | USD 550 | pedia_sales_tamarkin | — | |
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Auction: 2025 Auction Results (Lot 52) Title: Leica UR-Leica Dummy Camera
Description:
Leica UR-Leica Dummy Camera |
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| Jun 2022 | EUR 2,000 | Leitz Auction | Dummy | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 40 (Lot AI_40_40428) Title: Swedish Ur-leica Dummy
Description:
interesting dummy version of the Ur-Leica, made in Sweden, with 'Kopia av Ur-Leica 05' engraving on the back Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Nov 2019 | EUR 1,400 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 35 (Lot AI_35_37951) Title: Leica Standard black/nickel
Description:
pre-war Leica in exceptional, almost mint condition, with near-mint nickel Summar 2/5cm no.217550, matching lens cap - very hard to find in this good condition! Estimate: EUR 2,800 - EUR 3,200 |
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| Nov 2019 | EUR 1,900 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 35 (Lot AI_35_37996) Title: Leica Standard black/nickel
Description:
in beautiful condition, with early unnumbered nickel Elmar 3.5/3.5cm (clean lenses), chrome front cap Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 700 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 29 (Lot AI_29_33662) Title: Leica Standard black/chrome
Description:
late black Standard Leica in very good condition, with unnumbered chrome Elmar 3.5/5cm, lens cap Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 650 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 29 (Lot AI_29_33833) Title: Ur-Leica Replica 940231
Description:
Dummy of the Ur-Leica, manufactured by Leitz in Wetzlar, in unopened original maker's box Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| Nov 2015 | EUR 450 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 28 (Lot AI_28_32566) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
Dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz Wetzlar in fine condition Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| Mar 2014 | EUR 260 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 25 (Lot AI_25_29483) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz Wetzlar in near mint condition Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 450 |
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| May 2013 | EUR 300 | Leitz Auction | Dummy | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 23 (Lot AI_23_10863) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz Wetzlar in fine condition Estimate: EUR 300 - EUR 400 |
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| May 2013 | EUR 340 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 23 (Lot AI_23_10934) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz Wetzlar in very fine condition Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 450 |
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| May 2012 | EUR 360 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 21 (Lot AI_21_13959) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz Wetzlar in fine condition with metal plaque (8.2x12cm) 'Hier entschied 1924 Ernst Leitz II, die von Oskar Barnack erfundene Leica zu fertigen' Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| Nov 2011 | EUR 260 | Leitz Auction | replica gold | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 20 (Lot AI_20_13286) Title: Ur-Leica GOLD Replica
Description:
UR-Leica replica by Eurofoto AB in 1/2 scale with 24 carat golden plated finish, with finder, in original maker's box Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 500 |
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| Dec 2010 | EUR 360 | Leitz Auction | Dummy | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 18 (Lot AI_18_11911) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz Wetzlar Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| May 2010 | EUR 380 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 17 (Lot AI_17_11018) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz Wetzlar, maker's box Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| Dec 2009 | EUR 550 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 16 (Lot AI_16_19640) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
new dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz in Wetzlar, maker's box Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| Jun 2008 | EUR 260 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 13 (Lot AI_13_17153) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy
Description:
mint dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz in Wetzlar Estimate: EUR 300 - EUR 400 |
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| May 2006 | EUR 300 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 9 (Lot AI_9_26287) Title: Replica of Ur-Leica 940231
Description:
replica of the Ur-Leica, manufactured by Leitz in Wetzlar, in un-opened original maker's box Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| May 2006 | EUR 2,900 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 9 (Lot AI_9_26297) Title: Standard 'New York'
Description:
rare post-war Standard in top condition with Velostigmat 3.5/50mm no.510141, cap, red E.Leitz New York presentation box Estimate: EUR 2,800 - EUR 3,000 |
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| Jun 2005 | £264 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: LEICA, NIKON AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 221) Title: Leica Standard un-numbered
Description:
Leica Standard un-numbered Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 600 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_25120) Title: Ur-Leica Replica
Description:
replica of the Ur-Leica, manufactured by Leitz in Wetzlar Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 700 |
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| Nov 2004 | £239 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS, MAGIC LANTERNS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 49) Title: Leica UR Replica
Description:
Leica UR Replica Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| Nov 2004 | EUR 313 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 6 (Lot AI_6_24242) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz in Wetzlar Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 500 |
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| Nov 2004 | EUR 340 | Leitz Auction | Dummy | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 6 (Lot AI_6_24243) Title: Ur-Leica Dummy 940231
Description:
dummy camera of Ur-Leica, produced by Leitz in Wetzlar Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| Nov 1998 | £322 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 39) Title: UR-Leica replica
Description:
UR-Leica replica Estimate: £250 - £350 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Ur-Leica worth today?
In 2026, replica and dummy Ur-Leicas sell for roughly £260 to £1,800 at UK auction, with most hammer prices clustering around £300–£600 and only exceptional marked editions reaching the top of that range.
How much does an Ur-Leica replica sell for at auction?
Recent UK hammer results show a median price near £340, so a typical replica changes hands in the low-to-mid hundreds of pounds rather than the thousands.
Are these real Ur-Leicas from 1913?
No. Genuine Barnack prototypes are held in museum and corporate collections, so any Ur-Leica offered for sale is a later replica or dummy, and its value depends on which edition it is and how complete the presentation is.
Which Ur-Leica variant has the highest value?
The named Leitz replica editions — Arces, Oberländer, Sweden and the gold version — carry a premium over generic dummies, and a well-presented example accounts for the £1,800 high in the recent sales record.