Ukrainian Kiev case.

Hello,

I have a question to this case. It says "50 years Ukraine". Over the years I have found two of this cases with cameras inside, one was a Kiev IIIa from 1958 and the other is a Kiev 4 from 1959.
But when the plate says "50 years Ukraine" the camera which belongs to the case has to be from 1968, am I right?

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Hi Ulrich,

I don't know...
Perhaps this mention can be put in parallel with the production of the Kiev IIIa and IV with an Ukrainian logo in 1958 and 1959 too: why these two years?

Jacques.

Hi Ulrich,

I have also two Kievs with Ukrainian logo: Kiev IIIa from 1958 and Kiev-4 from 1962.
Kiev IIIa from 1958 is for sure genuine, but about Kiev-4 I have a doubt. Some collectors from Ukraine told me, that Kiev with Ukrainian logo was only one, Kiev-IIIa from '58, all other are fakes. Now I was very surprised to see such Kiev-IIIa from 1957 with original box in catalogue of Leitz 42. Auction.


Regards, Alexander

Alexander,

I am not sure if this KIIV IIIa on the Leitz auction is genuine. None of the KIIV IIIa I know have the additional "Made in USSR" engraved in the accessorie show. All of them only had the cyrillic engraving in the shoe. And they all were from 1958. But I am not sure, only a guess.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

I confirm that also my own Kiev IIIa with "Ukrainian Logo" is from 1958 (body Nr. 5834666, lens J-8 Nr. 5141216), on the accessory shoe, the inscription is cyrillic only.

I see that the piece offered for sale at Leitz-Photographica Auction, provided with an otherwise nice case, reached the respectable hammer price of 8.000,- Euro plus buyer's premium...

I have a Kiev III "Ukrainian" #590116 with J-8 #5905570 (just added it to the Wiki). Most examples seems to be from 1958, only few from 1959 according to the wiki. Never heard about later or earlier examples. 1957 is maybe possible. I assume that the front plates with engraving were not produced in parallel with the rest of the camera bodys. Or, to put it better, the serial numbers were probably assigned rather wildly and there were sure different production lines. Then probably some bodys were picked out and got a "ukrainian" front panel. And maybe there were still some bodys with serial number from 1957 in the factory.

Ukraine declared independent 22. January 1918 which means the first cameras could be from 1957 production in order to be ready for sale (or present) right in the beginning of 1958. But a 1959 should be very early serial in order to be "50 year"-celebration, like 116 and 518 are. The 3611 very doubtful!

Best regards,
Juhani