We are pleased to announce our next auction, featuring approximately 200 individual lots drawn from a diverse and compelling range of 19th- and early 20th-century photography. This sale focuses on vernacular images, photographs created not as formal studio portraits or elite commissions, but as direct, unscripted records of lived experience. These are objects made by and for everyday people, preserving moments of intimacy, labor, travel, performance, identity, and loss.
Raw, rare, and unforgettable—this is 19th- and early 20th-century photography at its best. Vernacular portraits, Native American warriors, African American resilience, Mormon pioneers, Western frontier families, and stark post-mortem scenes. Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, CDVs, and cabinet cards that capture real life without filters. Every image tells a story of survival, pride, and change. A museum-worthy collection for those who know real American history when they see it.
We are delighted to present exceptional collection of over 200 lots of early photography, focusing on the African American experience during the Civil War and Reconstruction. This collection includes daguerreotypes, identified Civil War soldiers, and a rare tintype with a letter about soldiers' motivations for fighting for emancipation. Also featured are diverse images from Europe, Native Americans, and Middle Eastern images. This is a unique opportunity to acquire significant historical artifacts and preserve the legacy of these transformative periods.