Mint Black Summarex value

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I inherited an almost mint, black Leitz Summarex 8.5 cm lens. I'm interested in obtaining an auction value for this lens. I have both front and rear caps with its mint, leather container. Unfortunately, I don't possess the matching lens hood.

Thanks,

KS

-- Karl Svensen (netcons4@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002

Answers

Karl. Unfortunately the hood, which seems to be rarer than the lens, would really enhance the value of this particular item. A black 50/1.5 Summarex with mint optics and very nice barrel is still avery desirable item. They show up for sale relatively infrequently, so it is hard to be precise about its value. Since the Leica market is depressed, I would say it is worth about $ 3000-3500 if you find an interested buyer. Before the downturn in the Leica collectible market, it was probably worth closer to $ 4500-5000.

The lenshood for this item is probably worth at least $ 2000-2500 by itself. It is also good that you have the front cap. This is a special black cap with a notch in it that would also be virtually impossible to find. Good luck.

BTW. What is the serial number? The reason I ask is that there were about 250-300 or so black Summarexes made. The first 90 or so (with SN 5930xx) were also sent to a government agency in Berlin for distribution to the military. These 90 lenses are most likely military lenses and are probably worth more than the later black Summarexes, which have a slightly differemt barrel configuration and were civilian (post-war) issue.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), March 30, 2002.


Eliot,

The SN is 590396. My father brought this back after the war and it is in absolutely pristine condition. I don't know how he obtained it but from the appearance of the barrel finish, lens clarity and case condition, it would seem that it may have never been used. I also have a Leitz 8.5 cm black filter that was attached to the lens and stored within its leather case.

Thanks for the info, Karl

-- Karl (netcons4@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.


Karl. Are you sure of that SN? The earliest SN of an 85/1.5 Summarex is 593001. Do you mean 593096? If so this one has a SN assigned to 1943 but was almost certainly produced post-war.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), April 01, 2002.

Eliot,

I apologize for the mistake. Since I was attempting to recall the serial number without the lens in hand, I later verified that the actual SN was #593096 not as I had thought. You think that this lens was produced after the war rather during? The appearance is quite remarkable and appears that it may have never left the factory. Can you determine the provenance based on any Leitz records?

Regards, Karl

-- Karl (netcons4@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.


It is impossible to say exactly when the lens was made, except for the fact that the first 90 lenses (SN 593001-593090) were made in 1943 and all shipped to Berlin. The SN 593xxx should indicate a 1943 SN, but in fact all it means was that the SN was assigned in 1943 not that the lens was made then. It seems that Leica stopped making the Summarexes after the first batch of 90 black lenses until after the war, when the made several hundred additionalblack paint lenses before converting to the chrome finish. This is the best anyone can say. Your lens is not among the first 90 but the subsequent production.

In any event, it is a very valuable lens, worth far more than the much more common chrome 85/1.5 Summarex. It will bring a lot of money when sold.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), April 02, 2002.



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