€456,000 for a military Leica in its original box: the Wetzlar auction sets a new benchmark

On June 13, 2026, at the 48th edition of the Leitz Photographica Auction in Wetzlar, a Leica IIIg with a screw mount produced in 1960 for the Swedish army fetched €456,000, including buyer's commission. The initial estimate was €140,000-150,000: the hammer fell for more than three times that amount.

The camera belongs to a series of which only 125 units were made, with serial numbers ranging from 987901 to 988025. It is distinguished by two immediately recognizable details: the matte black finish and the three Crowns of Sweden engraved on the back of the top plate, a military issue mark.

Exceptional condition for a field tool

What made this specimen particularly rare is not only the limited production but also its state of preservation. The camera has been preserved in almost NOS (New Old Stock) condition, an extraordinary circumstance for a tool meant for military use. The black finish remains largely intact, with minimal signs of handling and some small bubbles in the paint; the camera was still in its original box, complete with instructions in Swedish.

For a device issued to soldiers and designed to operate under field conditions, this level of preservation suggests that the specimen saw very limited, if any, use throughout its operational life.

An auction with two records

The Swedish Leica was not the only notable lot of the session. In the same auction, a Leica MP, of which only 402 units were produced (Lot 89), was sold for €600,000, confirming a market for Leica collectibles that continues to express very high valuations for low-production pieces in excellent condition.

The price of the Swedish IIIg, €456,000, establishes a new benchmark for this specific military variant and reinforces the position of the Leitz Photographica Auction as one of the leading global events for high-end photography collecting.