Limited Edition Leicas of the ‘20s and ‘30s: Unsung Treasures
Overshadowed by the Leica Luxus, they’re rare and priceless gems!
By Jason Schneider
The term “Leica Luxus” refers to two models of ultra-luxurious, limited-edition, gold-plated Leica cameras that were crafted by Ernst Leitz Wetzlar beginning in the late 1920s. The first, now known as the Luxus 1 of 1929 to 1931, is an opulent version of the original Leica I (Model A) that debuted in 1925. It was clad in lizard skin and offered in a choice of 4 colors. The second, dubbed the Luxus II of 1932, was basically a Leica II (Model D) coupled rangefinder camera done up in a gold-plated body, with lizard-skin covering, that came in a custom “crocodile” case. Only 95 Luxus I cameras were made, making them exceptionally rare collector's items that have garnered stupendous prices at auction. The Luxus II is even rarer, with only 4 known examples having been made according to the Leitz factory production records! It was never listed in a Leitz catalog and may have been custom ordered by well-heeled Leica aficionados who sent in their existing Leica IIs to Wetzlar and requested a “Luxus upgrade” including a matching case.
There are persistent rumors from some quarters that the Luxus I was only produced on special order for the elite and royalty, but this is false. Indeed, this model and its variations are clearly and precisely described in official Leitz Wetzlar catalogs of the period, complete with code names for each. The mere act of choosing a color for the covering hardly constitutes a “custom order.” As you can see from the listings we’ve included, there was also a black finished Leica I (Model A) covered in calfskin (code name Leanekalb) available, and it too qualifies as a super rare and valuable collectors’ prize. FYI a Leica II Luxus was sold at auction in Hong Kong in 2013 for $620,000, though most Leica experts assess its potential value to be much higher—perhaps as much as $2 million! Photo shown is from a BBC article on the auction.
Another ultra-rare version of the Leica Luxus is the Leica I (Model C) No. 55696 of 1931 with non-standardized screw mount. The example shown here is clad in light brown lizard skin, fitted with a gold finished 5cm f/2.5 Leitz Hektor lens engraved 696, and includes a matching gold finished Leica lens cap and FODIS rangefinder. What this near-mint masterpiece, which appears in James Lager’s book, would fetch at auction is anybody’s guess, but it’s surely a princely sum.
Other extremely rare limited production Leicas of the 1930s shown here are the Leica Standard (Model E) in black of 1937 with integral non-standard WEISU 35mm optical viewfinder intended for use with the 35mm f/3.5 Elmar lens, and the rare black finished Leica IIIb of 1938 (a run of only 5 cameras!) which, according to the Leitz factory production records, was supposed to have come with a black finished 50mm f/2 Summar lens that has remained elusive even to the most assiduous Leica historians. Either one if these black beauties would almost surely garner a hefty price at auction.
Finally, just for fun, we’ve included pictures of what might be called a “Luxus Opera Glass.” Made by Leitz and known as the “Bilustra,” this lizard skin clad binocular in matching tinted leather case would have made the perfect complement to the Leica Luxus in the handbag of a sophisticated lady attending an opening night at La Scala Milano
Profuse thanks to James Lager for providing the illustrations and much of the background information for this article.