A Leica M-A and matching Noctilux-M lens which had been presented as a gift to the late Pope Francis raised more than €6.5m at auction on Saturday (22 November).
The matching camera and Noctilux-M 1:1.2/50mm ASPH lens – in a bespoke presentation case – was announced as the charity lot for this Novembers Leitz Photographica Auction in Wetzlar, Germany.
The winning price was around 100 times the published estimate of €60,000 to €70,000, Leitz Photographica said.
Leica Camera AG presented the pontiff in 2024 with a unique Leica M-A paired with a Leica Noctilux-M 1:1.2/50mm ASPH lens. “Both the camera and the lens bear the serial number 5000000. It has long been tradition at Leica to reserve such milestone serial numbers for exceptional pieces that are often presented to distinguished public figures,” explains Alexander Sedlak, the managing director of Leica Camera Classics and Leitz Photographica Auction.
Reflecting his tireless advocacy for charitable initiatives, Pope Francis chose to auction the Leica set, with all proceeds directed toward helping those in need. “It was a privilege for us to offer this set as a charity lot, and we deliberately decided to waive the premium – the usual surcharge on the hammer price that goes to the auction house. The entire proceeds of €6.5 million will now be donated to His Holiness’s personal charity organisation,” Sedlak said.
He described the sale as “certainly one of the most exciting bidding battles in our company’s history and entirely befitting this extraordinary lot”.
Leitz Photographica said this November’s sale also included another camera intended for a high-profile figure. ‘ In October 1958, Theodor Heuss, the first President of the newly founded Federal Republic of Germany, presented Queen Elizabeth II of England with a Leica
M3 as a diplomatic gift,” Leitz Photographica said in a press release.
“To ensure a backup in case of loss, Leica produced two identical units. This back-up model – engraved with the initials ‘E II R’ on the top plate and the inscription ‘To Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – 20 October 1958 – Theodor Heuss’ on the base plate – was now offered at auction. It achieved €156,000 including premium (against an estimate of €90,000-€120,000).”
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