LEICA M6 Bundeseigentum,
1985
" ... It was a very early M6 body engraved: 'Bundeseigentum 12-121-5418',
Summicron-M 2/35mm no.335551x engraved: 'Bundeseigentum 6760-12-1215969', 35mm hood
engraved: 'Bundeseigentum 6760-12-121-552x' (as we cannot prove delivery to the German
Bundeswehr we cannot guarantee the engravings); Approx. Year: 1985 w/ S/N 16659xx.
Suggestive auction start price: EUR 3.000* ...".
* NOTE;- Indicative price(s) herein is/are based on original prices
published on previous auctions and in literature/references. Prices may vary according
to gradual yearly premium, supply/demand equations, and/or other renewed valuation
methods.
Credit: Image courtesy of Mr. Peter Coeln from LEICA Shop®, Austria who also operates a popular Westlicht Auction House. Image Copyright © 2008. All rights
reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.
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"Bundeseigentum"
in German can mean "governmental property" but for the most part, these
terms used in relation to LEICA camera/lenses referred to imaging tools that were
supplied to the German Army. Bundeseigentum-spec Leica/Leitz products may be in normal
finishes with special engraving, but there were instances where these bodies/lenses
were supplied in very distinctive colors, such as military green / olive color as well as in kits/sets for the army. On & off, Bundeseigentum-spec bodies and optics often
surface in the used equipment market, but they are very rare in the recent modern
issue M-series bodies. Here is an M6 with such engraving, but the auctioneer was
responsible enough to point out the fact the camera has no delivery note that proves
it was supplied to the Army and hence expressed some reservation on its provenance.
It is interesting to note that the LEICA Summicron-M 1:2/35mm on this camera was
made in Canada.
Well, if this M6 which carries Bundeseigentum
engraving can cause even some seasoned Leica guru collectors to pause for a moment
by not immediately recognizing its existence, I can only post these as a curiosity.
On the other hand, if this M6 was ever a genuine model, it could mean for the first
time that such M6 model indeed does exist in the M6 series, but was previously unknown.
Cross References: LEICA M3 BUNDESEIGENTUM Kit;
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