A Special Order Leica M3 Black Paint 'Magnum' Rangefinder Camera Serial No: 913669 Delivery Date: 12th April 1958/Magnum Photo Agency, Paris Lens: Leitz 5 cm f/2 rigid Summicron black paint/black chrome  Serial No: 1468861 Optics: F-G Notes: An extremely rare and very early double-stroke, black paint Leica M3, with black film counter and all other early features of these un-official pre-series black paint M3 cameras. Delivered to the Magnum Photo Agency Paris in 1958, the extremely heavy paint wear is commensurate with a camera that was used professionally.  This example is in fine working condition with shutter and original viewfinder glass in top condition.  Factory delivery records shows only 90 of these pre-series cameras were delivered before the first official batch of black M3 rangefinders in 1959 (serial numbers starting 959***), much less than 90 of these pre series cameras are still known to exist. The majority were delivered to Sweden and there were individual examples delivered in Paris, New York and Germany. The cameras serial number, seen on the top plate and internally on the chassis, officially records this as the 15th black paint M3 camera produced and delivered by the Leitz factory. This makes this camera the second earliest example of this hugely collectible model to ever be offered on the open market. The earliest example (the second piece), sold in 2014 for a hammer price of £320,000 in Hong Kong.  The unique 5cm f/2 black paint rigid Summicron lens no.1468861, with chrome bayonet mount and black chrome dual scale focussing ring, is very unusual and presumable a special factory request by the primary buyer. The serial number indicates this lens as a first version full black paint Summicron with brass focussing mount. From market research, there have been no other examples carrying comparably early serial numbers with mixture of black paint/black chrome recorded. An individual example has been recorded in 1958 with serial 158xxx, and a small batch has been recorded with serial number 192*** (1962).