Geodezia Moscow FAG №203

One of the rarest Leica copies ever made is the mythical "Geodesy-Leica." Initially unnamed, it was given the abbreviation FAG for Foto Apparat Geodeziya by readers of the Soviet magazine "Sovetskoe Foto."

The first Geodesy-Leica cameras, produced in early 1934, were essentially copies of the Leica II, featuring fixed lenses similar to the Leica I Model A. The camera's top and base plates were chrome plated, while the controls were finished in nickel. The serial number is located on the shutter crate, and the lens is a Geodeziya VOOMP z-d 3.5/50mm, numbered 1116.

This specific camera is described as a unique example, highlighted in HPR's "Leica Copies" on pages 374-375. The lot also includes a rare book and an original leather case stamped with the camera's name, further enhancing its collectible value.

Photo credit: © Leitz Photographica Auction