The Westlicht gallery says the Leica m3d belonged to David Douglas Duncan. The 96-year-old former photographer for LIFE magazine was a close friend of Picasso and published hundreds of exclusive photos of him.
Manufactured in 1955, the camera is one of four ever made, and the price is a world record for a commercially produced camera.
In a statement on Monday, Westlicht says the second-highest price in Saturday's sale was for a gold-plated Leica made in 1929, which sold for $1.3 million.
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