There were some "special order" Summiluxes v1 made in black paint. Most were ordered by pro's who wanted the "stealth" look (?). I have also seen a couple of black paint 35f1.4'' v1 in screw-mount. Again, special oder items. In the 50's and early 60's Leica would do these - not as a la carte items, but as limited versions. Usually done through the importers - who simply added up how many they could sell and ordered them. When the Summilux v1 (both the 50 and the 35) came out - there were still photographers who were using IIIf's and IIIg's and wanted the new, fast lenses.
The later version vI was indeed black anodized - or in some cases mixed black anodized and black paint.
The biggest problem with these things is that Leica's production records for these specials is not complete. Usually you have to go to the shipping documents to find out if any "specials" were made.
Is the price nuts - yes, in my book it is - but then i am not a collector. For something like that it has to be a case of "filling" a hole in a collection (and having the money to do so). Hope the buyer is happy with it.
I have had multiple 35f1.4 v1 over the years - at bit of sensation when it came out, but by todays standard fairly mediocre lens, though a 35f1.4 v1 with the OLLUX hood looks good on a M2, lust as the Summilux 50f1.4 v1 with the "crackle" finished hood and the nicely knurled focussing ring looks good on a black M3. But looks does not make a good lens!!
PS Leica even made a handful of the SBLOO finder in black paint! They were trying to get the Swedish Army to order some more of the "Three Crown" IIIg's and made a small batch of 35f1.4'v1 in LTM and the matching 35 finder. Looked really good on a black IIIg.
