17th Jun, 2022 12:00
Fine & Rare Cameras
A Leica M2 Rangefinder Body
1961, black paint, serial no. 1031864, body, F-G, shutter working, heavy brassing,
Note: Leica Camera AG states that serial 1031864 was delivered on 22.02.1962. The recipient or place of delivery is not noted. No entry in the old repair-/maintenance books for this serial.
Provenance: The camera was purchased directly from E. Leitz (Instruments) Ltd, 30 Mortimer Street, London W1 by Associated Iliffe Press Ltd (much later IPC Business Press Ltd) for the use of Ron Easton, a senior photographer in a pool of some 8 photographers. They served the many Iliffe magazines which included Flight, Farmer and Stockbreeder, Autocar, Motor Transport, Motor Trader, Cage and Aviary Birds among others. Ron Easton worked for these magazines but specialised in motoring subjects.
When the pool was disbanded in 1970, Ron Easton and another photographer transferred to Autocar magazine and worked out of the Autocar office under the supervision of the current vendor. The camera was used for motor racing photography (Formula One and rallies) all over Europe, and also for the magazine’s weekly road test car photography. On one occasion when photographing the Swedish Rally in the 1970s with temperatures around minus 20C, Ron’s Hasselblad 500CM refused to function but the Leica M2 just kept on working!
During the 1960s and 1970s the Leica was serviced regularly by E. Leitz (Instruments) Ltd and during one of these services in the mid-1970s the camera’s brass strap lugs, which had worn dangerously thin, were replaced by Leitz with the present chrome ones as the original black painted lugs were no longer available.
When Ron Easton retired from Autocar in 1981 the Leica was acquired by the current vendor, who had known the camera since the mid-1960s and had been loaned it from the late 1970s after it had been replaced by an M4P. The current vendor has also used the camera extensively since then.
Sold for £17,500
Result plus buyers premium
1961, black paint, serial no. 1031864, body, F-G, shutter working, heavy brassing,
Note: Leica Camera AG states that serial 1031864 was delivered on 22.02.1962. The recipient or place of delivery is not noted. No entry in the old repair-/maintenance books for this serial.
Provenance: The camera was purchased directly from E. Leitz (Instruments) Ltd, 30 Mortimer Street, London W1 by Associated Iliffe Press Ltd (much later IPC Business Press Ltd) for the use of Ron Easton, a senior photographer in a pool of some 8 photographers. They served the many Iliffe magazines which included Flight, Farmer and Stockbreeder, Autocar, Motor Transport, Motor Trader, Cage and Aviary Birds among others. Ron Easton worked for these magazines but specialised in motoring subjects.
When the pool was disbanded in 1970, Ron Easton and another photographer transferred to Autocar magazine and worked out of the Autocar office under the supervision of the current vendor. The camera was used for motor racing photography (Formula One and rallies) all over Europe, and also for the magazine’s weekly road test car photography. On one occasion when photographing the Swedish Rally in the 1970s with temperatures around minus 20C, Ron’s Hasselblad 500CM refused to function but the Leica M2 just kept on working!
During the 1960s and 1970s the Leica was serviced regularly by E. Leitz (Instruments) Ltd and during one of these services in the mid-1970s the camera’s brass strap lugs, which had worn dangerously thin, were replaced by Leitz with the present chrome ones as the original black painted lugs were no longer available.
When Ron Easton retired from Autocar in 1981 the Leica was acquired by the current vendor, who had known the camera since the mid-1960s and had been loaned it from the late 1970s after it had been replaced by an M4P. The current vendor has also used the camera extensively since then.
Auction: Fine & Rare Cameras, 17th Jun, 2022
