A prototype Leica I camera from the rare 0-series sold for 7.2 million euros at the 46th Leitz Photographica Auction in Wetzlar on June 27, 2025. The camera, bearing serial number 112, is over a century old and considered a precursor to the 35mm camera.
The auction price far exceeded the initial estimate of 1.5 to 2 million euros, with the starting bid at 800,000 euros. This sale highlights the enduring appeal of historical Leica cameras. The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed.
The Leica 0-series, produced in 1923, comprised only 22 units, with roughly half still in existence. This particular camera was delivered to Oskar Barnack, the inventor of the 35mm camera. The auction was part of the Leica Camera AG's 100th-anniversary celebrations, held at the Leica World in Wetzlar.