81. Leica M3 chrome no.700004

This is the fourth production Leica M camera and the second earliest M3 camera we known to exist in 100% original condition! Leitz company reserved the numbers from 700001 for the new M3 in 1953. Though some books list no.700000 as the first M3 (a camera with this number was given two years later to Prof. Kruckenhauser as a presentation camera and has not the early features), the original and very first M camera is no.700001 (finished in September/October 1953). The camera no.700004 has never been restored, has all the early features and is in perfect working order with clean finder. It has signs of use including meter marks on the top plate. The chassis number (Guss Nummer) is 177, the first M3 (no.700001, also sold in our auction) has chassis number 178, M3 no.700006 has chassis number 179. It is internally hand-engraved '700004'. The camera comes with a collapsible Summicron 2/5cm no.1144411 and the original first type everready case. It has never been on the market before - a sensational discovery of Leica history, it was delivered on March, 24th, 1954 to New York and the first M camera to be exported. WestLicht had the honour to offer the M3 cameras nos. 700000, 700001, 700004, 700006 and 700007 in their auction history!

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