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89Leica MP-105 black / chromeA sought-after original black paint Leica MP, one of only 141 black paint examples produced, upgraded by Leica in 1975 with a black/chrome top plate and a replacement back door, while retaining all original black paint small parts, including the controls, flash shoe, strap lugs, and other fittings. The entry in the Leicadelivery records reveals that the camera was originally delivered to %u2018Klein, Ffm.%u2019 (Frankfurt am Main) on 21 October 1958. Included with the camera are the original purchase invoice dated 28 January 1975 from a camera store in Berlin, documenting its sale as a second-hand item, and a Leica invoice dated 23 June 1975 recording the replacement of the top plate and back door at a cost of DM 103.27.The camera remains in excellent cosmetic condition and good working order, and is accompanied by a near-mint black paint Leicavit MP. This is the first Leica MP with a black/chrome top plate we have encountered and, to ourknowledge, the only example documented with a factory invoice confirmingthe conversion. Combined with the rarity of the black paint MP, of which only 141 examples were produced, this camera represents a highly unusual andhistorically significant variant of one of Leica%u2019s most desirable models.Starting price: %u20ac 150.000Estimate: %u20ac 300.000%u2013 400.000Serial no.: MP-105Year of production: 1958Condition: B/A