Since Gianni Rogliatti produced his first classic book on the LEICA camera ten years ago it has run into two editions and five printings. It also appeared in French, German and Italian. When that book, "LEICA -The First Fifty Years", was written the events and influences that were to shape the future of the Leitz company and the LEICA camera were already apparent, but it was too early for anyone to guess what that future would be. What at that time seemed to be the established pattern for LEICA models in the future turned out to be short-lived and developments took a different turn.

It was high time to completely revise the text to take account of all these changes of the last ten years, and to bring to the attention of LEICA enthusiasts the new information that had come to light on the cameras described in the earlier book. This has now been done and we are pleased to publish Rogliatti's new book in time to celebrate the LEICA'S sixtieth anniversary.

This is the story of the LEICA from its inception to the present day, told through the detailed accounts of all models produced in that time, and arranged to show the genesis of one model from another. With its comprehensive chapters on military, anniversary, special, factory and dummy cameras; its camera serial-number lists right up to date with the latest information to be released by Leitz; and its very complete Code Word catalogue (many more have been found and many dates are now known to be earlier), this is an essential reference book for all LEICA collectors and enthusiasts.