Most valuable camera in the world

26 Oct The Telegraph

One of the rarest cameras in the world, which is one of just four ever made, is to be sold at auction. The gold plated Leica Luxus II camera is the only surviving model found and is the first time the camera and its distinctive crocodile skin case has ever been seen.

It is valued at between £500,000 and £800,000 but experts believe because of the trend for the Leica brand, it is likely to reach more than £1m at auction and could become the most expensive camera ever sold.The camera was given to its late owner, a keen amateur photographer, after the end of World War Two.

He used it throughout the 1940s and 1950s and is unlikely to have been aware of how valuable it was to become.Marc Allum, antiques expert and a presenter on Antiques Roadshow, discovered the camera on the programme 12 years ago and said it has the potential to be the "most valuable find ever" for the BBC show."Leicas are the best cameras, the 35mm film was developed by Leica," he said.

"They used to make specialist editions and one-offs. This is one of four ever made, it's probably one of the rarest Leicas in the world."The whereabouts of the other three are unknown. It might be the only one that has survived."I found it on the roadshow 12 years ago and it's been languishing, ready to resurface and it's taken a long time."It was a strange experience at the time.

It was put in front of me and I looked at it in complete disbelief. I never expected to see a camera like that.

"At the time it wasn't worth anywhere near as much as it is now. It's just that the market has moved so quickly."

Experts believe the camera may have been specially made for a wealthy owner, due to its gold plating and crocodile skin case.Mr Allum, who wrote

The Antiques Magpie, added: "It's the only example of a camera in this distinctive case."It's a fantastic thing and could be the most expensive thing to ever come from Antiques Roadshow. It's the rarest camera I've ever handled.

"I've been literally shaking with anticipation."