Richebourg, Paris - Daguerreotype Outfit, 1842

Estimated Value: 30,000-36,000 Euro

An exceptionally important early daguerreotype outfit, dating to around 1842 and supplied by Richebourg in Paris, comprising a half-plate sliding box camera with matching and extremely rare Richebourg brass-bound Petzval lens, the mercury development box, plate holder, and the wooden box for Daguerreotypes. Complete sets of this kind are of the utmost rarity, offering a remarkable insight into the earliest practice of photography.

Carl Zeiss Jena, Triplet Achromat 250mm No.15, 1890

Estimated Value: 80,000-100,000 Euro

One of the earliest photographic lenses ever produced by Carl Zeiss Jena has surfaced: a rare Triplet Achromat, dating from the very moment the company transitioned from microscope to photographic optics.

Part of an experimental series of no more than nineteen lenses, this example—serial number 15—is one of only two known to survive. Preserved in near-mint condition and complete with its original set of Waterhouse stops, it offers a remarkable glimpse into the workshop practices of early Zeiss lenses.

A true museum piece from the birth of modern photographic optics.

Damoizeau, Paris - Cyclographe à Foyer Variable, 1894

Estimated Value: 16,000-22,000 Euro

An exceptionally rare Cyclographe panoramic camera by Jules Damoizeau, Paris, c. 1890—one of the earliest cameras capable of capturing a full 360° view. Hand-built and likely produced only on demand, each example is unique; only a few are known to survive. This finely preserved camera, complete with its original Steinheil lens, represents a remarkable milestone in the history of panoramic photography and the origins of rotational camera design.

Leica MP-4, 1956

Estimated Value: 400,000-500,000 Euro

A very important Leica MP prototype, No. 4, from the original 1956 pilot series of just twelve cameras (MP-1 to MP-12), created for field testing prior to the official introduction of the MP.

One of only ten chrome examples, MP-4 combines the early M3 shutter speed sequence with the MP rapid wind system and retains all characteristic prototype features, including the shutter crate engraving “P-4”. Delivered on 19 October 1956 to the Swiss agent Perrot in Biel shortly after Photokina, this camera is published in Lager I and offered here for the first time at auction.

Preserved in fine, fully original and working condition, and accompanied by its matching Elmar 2.8/50mm lens and the rare first MP brochure from 1956, this camera represents one of the most significant Leica prototypes in existence. Only three other examples from this experimental series have appeared at auction.

Provenance: Private Collection

Nikon S3-M Black Paint with Motordrive, 1960

Estimated Value: 40,000-50,000 Euro

An exceptionally rare Nikon S3-M in black paint, no. 6600133, one of the most elusive of all Nikon rangefinder cameras.

Produced in a total of only 195 examples (1960–61), with fewer than 100 originally supplied with the S-72 motor drive, this 18×24mm half-frame model for 72 exposures represents the pinnacle of Nikon’s motorized rangefinder development. Even fewer complete sets survive today.

This outstanding example is preserved in near-mint, fully original and perfect working condition, complete with matching S-72 motor drive, battery pack, additional baseplate, Nikkor-H 2/5cm lens and the extremely rare original Japanese instruction booklet.

A remarkable and highly important set of exceptional rarity.

Nikon Nikkor-H 2.8/300mm "Sapporo"

Estimated Value: 24,000-30,000 Euro

A rare pre-production Nikon Nikkor-H 2.8/300mm “Sapporo” lens, no. 603041, from the very first batch of only 72 examples produced in 1971 for press photographers.

Issued ahead of the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, these lenses were manufactured before Nikon’s ED glass was available and instead feature special optical glass supplied by SCHOTT. As such, they represent a unique transitional stage in Nikon’s telephoto lens development.

This exceptional example is preserved in new, unused condition and comes complete with its original maker’s box, leather case, strap, and caps—an outstanding and rare piece of Nikon history.

OPL Foca-Reflex Prototyp, France c.1960

Estimated Value: 10,000-12,000 Euro

The OPL Foca-Reflex prototype, an extraordinary chapter in photographic history.

Developed around 1960 by Optique & Précision de Levallois (OPL), this classic 35mm SLR with focal-plane shutter never entered serial production yet stands as a testament to Foca’s technical ambition. The camera is illustrated in Foca Historica by Jean-Loup Princelle (p. 162) and is offered together with a prototype FOCA Oparex 1.9/5cm lens, no. 0002, in M42 mount. Presented here for the first time, this exceptional and likely unique camera ranks among the rarest survivors of post-war French camera production.

A remarkable museum-level piece.

Zeiss Ikon Contarex Bullseye Black Paint, c.1962

Estimated Value: 6,000-8,000 Euro

An exceptionally rare black paint Zeiss Ikon Contarex “Bullseye” from a very small experimental batch of approximately 20 cameras. These sample or prototype models never entered serial production. The example offered here is in notably above-average condition and comes with a matching black Planar 2/50mm lens, lens cap, and ever-ready case.

An extraordinarily rare and visually striking variant of one of Zeiss Ikon’s most iconic cameras.