A piece of American history: Own a Leica SLR camera used by Jackie Kennedy
posted Friday, July 22, 2016 at 4:30 PM EST
From 1964 through 1968, Leica produced its Leicaflex single lens reflex camera. In total, there were approximately 37,500 of these cameras produced, 9,500 of which were Mark II models. One of these Mark II models is reported to have been owned and used by the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The particular camera she owned was sold as part of a Sotheby's auction in 2005 and is now available for sale on eBay by JG Autographs.
For a mere $8,995 (and $3.99 shipping) you can get your hands on this piece of American history. The Leicaflex SLR Mark II is fitted with a Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 50mm lens as well. Jackie Kennedy was an avid photographer and it was her job as a journalist for the Washington Times-Herald newspaper that led to her meeting then U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy.
As pointed out in the Reddit thread about this listing, there is not definitive proof of Jackie Kennedy using this particular Leica camera beyond the original receipt from the 2005 Sotheby's auction and pictures of Kennedy using cameras, including one that could be the camera currently for sale.
If you are in the market for a Leicaflex SLR you can currently get your hands on a less historically significant body for less than $500 on Ebay.
(Seen via Reddit. Index image credit: JG Autographs)