Kiev - IIIa ..... 35 mm Contax copy / coupled rangefinder with uncoupled selenium light meter
factory : Arsenal - V.I. Lenin / Kiev, Ukraine, USSR
production of Kiev model IIIa: between 1956 -1959 approx. 200,000
production with "Ukraine" logo : produced in1958 only in unknown amount / very few known
year : 1958 ..... body serial # : 5838122 ....... lens : Jupiter-8 / 50 mm f.2 ........ lens serial # : 5841499

notes : This model differs from the regular production of the model Kiev-IIIa only in the logo on the front plate of the camera. The top script is spelled in the Ukrainian way "Kiiv" rather than the normal Russian spelling seen on all other Kievs.

This version of the logo was done at the factory on only a very few cameras relative to the years production , which probably exceeded 35,000 cameras. All of the cameras with this version of the logo that have surfaced so far, were made in 1958, the 40th anniversary of the Ukrainian Independence from Russia. There is also at least one Kiev-4 with this logo, also from 1958.

The present example has an original passport that is dated in 1959, although the serial number indicates manufacture in 1958.

The passports that accompany this series of cameras are also different than the normal passports of Kiev-IIIa cameras. The normal factory address is covered with ink and an address is printed that reads (loose translation): "City of Kiev, National Economic Council, YSSR (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic)". However, the camera has the normal "Made In USSR" ("SDELANO V SSSR") engraving on the accessory shoe.

This example has its original leather case,lens cap, shutter release cord, manual, passport, inspection paper, some other papers (receipts?), and its original brown box with gold printing .