Camera sold for $2.19 million in Austria

[November 27, 2012]  VIENNA (AP) -- An Austrian photo gallery says a camera used by a photographer who documented the life of artist Pablo Picasso has sold for a world-record price of euro1.68 million ($2.19 million).

The Westlicht gallery says the Leica m3d (pictured top) belonged to David Douglas Duncan. The 96-year-old former photographer for LIFE magazine was a close friend of Picasso and published hundreds of exclusive photos of him.

Manufactured in 1955, the camera is one of four ever made, and the price is a world record for a commercially produced camera.

In a statement Monday, Westlicht says the second-highest price in the Saturday's sale was for a gold-plated Leica made in 1929, which sold for euro1.02 million ($1.3 million).

[Associated Press]

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