[Leica] Market Value as Defined by Experts & Dinosaur Merde

[MGMcGough@aol.com]

Market value has always been set by the price that people will pay.
Compilation of prices by Peter Coeln, David Slade & Stan Tamarkin
are given in DM, #s & $ in the International Price Guide & will vary
from country to country with the rate of exchange plus availability.

For rare items that seldom come on the market - the price is most
likely to be to be set by the knock-down price of the last auction
where it has been offered.  A good example of this recently showed
up on eBay with one of rarest of Leicas (Leica Rifle) of which only 
7 authentic one are known. The last one sold, went for $35,000 so
Adolph Gasser set the reserve at $40,000  - it sold to an Italian for
$42,000 & I am sure that Otello was only acting as an agent for the
actual buyer who might have been the Thai that collects old used
Grand Prix race cars, even though he has never himself raced.

There really shouldn't be any antagonism between user & collector
for the simple reason that IMHO anything that is worth owning and
using with tender loving care is certainly worth collecting rather than
be sent to the attic or the junk heap where its entire history is lost.
                                                                            
One outstanding exception  is the "instant rarity" commemorative
that is so repulsive to Stephen Gandy & many others - but why just
pick on Leica comm's - as there are many collectors of comm pins,
stamps & coins etc.
 
To me, the real summit of collecting is offered by a Florida company
that sells authentic fossilized dinosaur excrement to collectors of it.

Mary Grace (de Milo)