The Jony Ive-Marc Newson-designed Leica M for (RED) fetches $1.8 million at Sotheby’s

 

 

The one-off Leica M Typ 240 designed by Apple's Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson was auctioned off at Sotheby's this past weekend for an eye-watering final price of US$1.8 million, making it one of the world's most expensive cameras. Coincidentally, it is also one of the world's rarest cameras, with only one copy in existence. The total sum raised for the (RED) project during the auction is US$12.9 million, which will go directly to The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The only item topping the Leica M during that auction is a unique white and red Steinway & Sons grand piano, which fetched the only slightly larger sum of US$1.9 million.

The Ive/Newson-designed M 240 isn't the first Leica camera to be sold for such an exorbitant price. In the past, several historic Leica models have switched owners for transaction fees well above the million dollar line. Never before, however, has a digital camera been auctioned off for such a high price, which makes the Leica M for (RED) a first. The most expensive camera ever to be sold was a Leica as well. It was an early 0-series model from 1923, and went for US$ 2.77 million during the 21st Westlicht auction last year. Unlike the Leica M for (RED), however, that one was not sold for charity.

 

 

(via Leica Rumors)