42nd Leitz Photographica Auction

Leitz Photographica Auction 42 revolves around photographs from iconic photographers and the cameras they used. The upcoming edition of the world-renowned auction series will take place from in Wetzlar, Germany, from June 9 to 10, featuring, among others, photographs and cameras by John Bulmer, Walker Evans and Terry O'Neill. With their black paint Leica cameras, Bulmer and Evans documented some of the most important chapters in the history of the 20th century, whereas O'Neill's celebrated film star portraits shed light on the myth of Hollywood. Collectors with a taste for the fine arts will also find the Leica MP "Planet Earth" engraved by King Nerd intriguing.

Twice a year, auction house Leitz Photographica Auction holds its eponymous auction of vintage cameras and photographs. In regard to vintage cameras, buyers are particularly interested not only in the craftsmanship of the equipment but also in its historical relevance. "Cameras from famous previous owners are extremely popular. This auction year, we are focusing on cameras that belonged to celebrated photographers", comments Alexander Sedlak, Managing Director of Leica Camera Classics, under whose umbrella the auction house operates.

Historic devices from a wide range of manufacturers will be auctioned, but the focus is on Leica. "Picturing the world with a Leica has its own appeal. But this time we also have a camera in the auction on which the world has been depicted", explains Sedlak. British artist Johnny Dowell aka "King Nerd", who specializes in bespoke engravings, embellished a Leica MP with the image of planet Earth. The camera will be auctioned on 10 June. The relationship between art and technology is also the main theme of the two-day auction.

Leitz Photographica Auction 42 will take place over the span of two days at Leitz Park in Wetzlar. On 9 June, the "Modern Times" photography auction takes place; on 10 June, the auction of historical cameras will follow. Bids can be submitted in advance – online, in written form or by telephone. Live bidding during the auction is possible on site or at www.leitz-auction.com and www.liveauctioneers.com. Leitz Photographica Auction will return to Vienna in November 2023.

Some of the highlights

John Bulmer (born 1938) enriched the elegiac black and white of photojournalism with colour. His work for the British "Sunday Times Magazine", the world's first colour supplement to a national newspaper, opened the door to a new era of reportage photography.

Another highlight of the auction is a Leica M2 black paint by Walker Evans (1903-1975), who purchased the camera in 1962 and shot with it for over ten years before switching from 35mm film to a larger format. Evans is considered one of the greatest American photographers in history; his works have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the George Eastman Museum, the Centre Pompidou and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, to name but a few.