Leica M3 Original Red Velvet Box,~1955, ISUMO w/ Summicron Lens - Leitz Wetzlar

Description

This is a
RARE
, very
early
Leica M3
camera
red
velvet box
Code name:
ISUMO
--->
M3
camera +
Summicron 50mm f2
lens complete
kit
(
2nd highest price
at that time, ~ 00 in today's money)
(some similar red boxes are for
IGEMO,
which is
M3
body
only)
Has the
metal plaque
for the lens
Summicron
(see picture) that originally came with the kit.
The beautiful box has
signs of age
, dust and cracks/tears and may be fragile, but still works, the lid opens/closes OK.
A piece of history.  The history of Man's superb craftsmanship and mechanical engineering.  A relic from the PEAK of human's achievement in traditional manufacturing of precision equipment -> camera.
Collect it. Wonderful for display purpose.
Serial # was originally (at that time) covered by Leica's red tape.  Not sure what the purpose was: to correct the serial #, or to write the actual serial # on it (if so, the text faded away somehow -> last picture).
It seems that after ~ 1956, Leica stopped using this luxurious velvet red box, and started using a regular grey paper box for M3 cameras.
This particular one was used in either
1954
(the year M3 was introduced) or
1955
.  So it's a very early piece, and hard to find.
Note the tag inside the lid for patents, in addition to the
metal round plaque
for the included lens (Summicron), which is
extremely rare
(most are lost).
There are only a handful of such boxes available online at the moment.
Rare Leica item with historical significance.
Own a piece of history
.
FREE Worldwide shipping
.