Special Edition: OstLicht Shanghai Wrap-up

Featuring a $3.1m IIIg.

This IIIg commanded $3.18M, almost quadruple its high estimate.

The last hammer has fallen, and the OstLicht Camera Auction Autumn 2024 Shanghai is complete. The most notable sale was a unique Leica IIIg Olive (Bundeswehr) Sample, achieving an extraordinary CN¥23,000,000 ($3.18M) - nearly quadruple its high estimate.

Best in Show

This military version of the black M4 for the US Army sold for CN¥400,000.

1. Military models. Bundeswehr (German Military), Swedish Military, and Luftwaffen-Eigentum (Air Force), and US Army variants commanded high premiums.

2. M3 was the star of the show.

• Leica M3 No. 8 (SN: 700008) brought in CN¥6,000,000 ($829,800)

• Leica M3 SBS - CN¥1,500,000 ($207,487)

3. Paint it black.

• 1957 MP Black Paint - CN¥4,500,000 ($622,350)

• M3 Black Paint (pictured above) - CN¥2,200,000 ($304,315)

4. Gun Rifles.

- E. Leitz New York Leica Gun RIFLE Outfit (1938) - CN¥3,400,000 ($470,220)

Limited editions showed mixed results

The M9-P Edition Hermès just touched the high end of its estimate.

Contemporary limited editions mostly fell within their estimates. Here are some interesting results:

• M9-P Edition Hermès (2012) - CN¥500,000 ($69,150)

• M7 Titanium '50 Jahre M-System' - CN¥900,000 ($124,470)

• Leica M7 Hermès 'Veau Swift Etoupe' Edition - CN¥220,000 ($30,431)

• M6 TTL 'Year of the Dragon 2000' - CN¥130,000 ($17,979)

• M6 'Royal-Foto Austria' - CN¥100,000 ($13,830)

• M9 Titan Edition - CN¥95,000 ($13,139)

Notably, the M8.2 Safari Set (1/500) was pulled from the auction.

These hammer prices don’t include the 25% buyers premium. For the M6 TTL 'Dragon 2000', for example:

1. Hammer Price: CN¥130,000 ($17,979)

2. Buyer's Premium: CN¥32,500 ($4,495)

3. Total Cost to Buyer: CN¥162,500 ($22,474)

Not for the faint of heart, but lots of lovely gear to look at.

Until next Friday,

Summimarket