An Austrian photo gallery says a camera used by a photographer who
documented the life of artist Pablo Picasso has sold for a world record
price of $2.19 million.
The Westlicht gallery says the Leica m3d
belonged to David Douglas Duncan. The 96-year-old former photographer
for LIFE magazine was a close friend of Picasso and published hundreds
of exclusive photos of him.
Manufactured in 1955, the camera is one of four ever made, and the price is a world record for a commercially produced camera.
In
a statement on Monday, Westlicht says the second-highest price in
Saturday's sale was for a gold-plated Leica made in 1929, which sold for
$1.3 million.