Leica II Gold Plated

[TravelWorld]

I picked up this Leica at a flee market in Krakow, Poland some 15 years ago. Did not think it had any serious value, but I liked the gold plating.

Upon return to my home in Norway, I did some research, and concluded that it was probable a Russian copy, so I did not pursue the matter. Still nice to look at in my camera collection.

Recently I have been reviewing all my old cameras, and I ran across your website.

From your list of serial numbers:
Leica II 1942-44 Serial# range 354201 - 354406 Total 200 units.

Mine is # 354220, which indicates that he camera was produced early in 1942. Being gold plated, it was probably made for some hot-shot in the Luftwaffe. I have read someplace that a few gold plated were made of the Leica II (in addition to the "Luxus" series).

The camera has the German Eagle stamped on the top plate, and Luftwaffe Eigentum" on the back plate.

The camera has no wear marks nor any scratches. The lens 50 mm f 3.5 is fully clear. This is also gold plated, and carries a number 0340453. The range finder works fine, but I have not run any film through it, so I cannot tell of the functionality.

I also have a case for it. It is slightly worn, but appears to be original. Inside there aret the initials T.B.H. inside.

Fake or real?
• The serial number seems to be legit
• Even the lens is gold plated. This require access to the lens metal parts before assembly.
• The production period matches the fact that the Luftwaffe and the German Eagle are stamped on it. (It would have been pretty brazen to stamp the Eagle on a copy.)
• The USSR copies have FED or Korki stamped on the top plate, this has not.
• Even the case looks to be real

My conclusion: This is a real Leica II, and being gold plated makes it very special, indeed.

PS: I have a lot of pictures. I you want, I can upload to my website travel-world.no. These three are compressed.

Petter Brevik

[Dubois Pierre]

My dear Sir, sorry for you but this "Leica" is a pure copy from the Soviet era and is therefore 100% fake .

[Dubois Pierre]

An interesting site on the subject of fake Leicas. Leitz never built gold Leicas with eagles or other Third Reich engravings.


https://mikeeckman.com/2020/12/how-to-s ... ake-leica/

[Dxb_13]

Hi,

Here is Leica camera serial numbers database

https://reddotcamera.net/leica/serial-number/

[joshua980]

Damn! TravelWorld do you know where this flee market were? I want to visit this place! ;)