My friend John Cartwright has all the luck. He has a nose for a good camera and always ends up buying something his friends, including me, should have seen and would have bought if they had had their wits about them. No sooner does John snap up Hercule Poirot’s pristine MP than he recasts his line and lands a truly wonderful M2 with all the trimmings.
The point about this mint-condition 1960 M2 is that it is boxed and comes with all the original trimmings, including the elusive red and gold test tag. Most buyers just ripped them off and threw them away, little realising that they would be in such demand 55 years later. Attached to the camera is a lovely rigid Summicron dated 1961. Ivor Cooper of Red Dot Cameras, who sold the M2 to John earlier today, believes that the camera and lens have been living together in harmony since new. Judging by the clean box, the paperwork and certificates, he is probably right. Ivor, by the way, has probably the largest collection of good vintage and modern Leicas in the UK. If you want a mint example or just a good user camera he is likely to have what you want.
John bought this outstanding M2 outfit for £1,450 which I think is just about right. Tonight he is a happy man and the M2 is also happy, sitting next to David Suchet’s old Leica MP. It’s nice to find a good home.
I eventually bought that M2 from Ffordes (you kindly looked at the pictures for me). It’s currently with Red Dot for a CLA. Can’t wait to get it back!
Congratulations, I am sure you will be happy with it. As it happens, another friend of mine wants an M2. He has an M9 with one lens—a 35mm Summicron—so in order to use that lens he has to go for an M2 instead of M3. I pointed him towards Red Dot because they have such a good selection. Enjoy the M2.