Strange Bessa II with Grey Leather - Original???

Solinar

Solinar

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Cameta Auctions has an over-priced - Bessa II - that I've never seen before. It's boxed and like new looking, except for case marks.

Has anyone ever seen a Voigtlander Bessa II with a grey covering before?
 
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If you look real close at the hinge for the back, and the lever on the front, you can see some rust. I would say rust is not so Mint...
 
I thought I recalled seeing something like this a couple of years ago, and possibly it was this camera. Of course, gray leather doesn't automatically double the price of a camera, as the seller believes.

I can see that the leather is slightly discolored near the edges, so it's possible that this is original. I can also see that the embossed pattern is correct and matches other Voigtlanders. As well, you can read "GERMANY" on the edge, where it should be.

Nice camera -- not $1,999 nice, but nice nonetheless.

It's always difficult to say if that's the original box, despite what the seller claims. Some sellers will buy boxes and then add papers or unrelated cases to make it look like an original set.

I wonder how much money the original owner received for this camera, if it's not an eBay flip.
 
unusual isnt it. voigtlanda did on occassion place a different covering on their camera, whether it was for special order or some other reason i dont know. i have a bessa E (RF) with moroccan leather instead of the leatherette and so far only about a half dozen are known to exist, but its a least recorded that they did make them.

one would think voigtlanda would have made more than one or two with the grey leatherette (looks like that i think) after all they would have had to make a run of that colour so its odd that it hasnt been heard of before (not that i have found anyway).

I was curious so i asked for the contact info of the previous sellar but this seller says he has had it for 15 years and its not available! the sales docket doesnt mention grey leather/covering. i would assume it would have cost more to purchase so i thought perhaps it may of shown on the sales docket but that doesnt dis-credit it on its own. it looks genuine although i cant say i like the look, maybe it would look better in the hand *shrugs*.

no reason why a genuine grey leather wouldnt be worth more than a normal black now but the rust or moisture marks around the edges of the covering and those marks on the bellows devalue and dont quite rate as mint or the price asked IMO
 
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