Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-06-24 11:00:00 2026-06-24 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/june-2026-vernacular-photo-history-auction-23574
Our June 2026 auction presents a focused and exceptional selection of historical photographs spanning the 1840s through the early twentieth century, with unusual depth in named subjects, rare formats, and documented provenance anchored by strong vernacular material that rewards close looking.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 217

4 Photographer Advertising Cards, New England Studios

Estimate: $100 - $200
Starting Bid
$50

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$100 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $5,000
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
Four advertising cards removed from ninth-plate cased images form a companion group to a previously offered set, together spanning the mid-nineteenth-century New England ambrotype and daguerreotype market across four states. All four date to the window of approximately 1854 to 1865 when these process types dominated American portrait photography.

The Shattuck card carries an oval stamped imprint reading "S. Shattuck / Ambrotype, Daguerreotype, and Photographic Artist / 19 Central St. / Lowell," identical in studio and address to an example in the prior group. The Clinton, Massachusetts card reads "From Clinton Photograph Rooms / Greene's Block / High Street, Clinton / Particular attention given to Copying and Enlarging Daguerreotypes, in Photograph and Ambrotype / Boynton, Artist," printed in black on cream stock with a missing corner. The Gardiner, Maine card reads "From Green & Co.'s Ambrotype Rooms / Over Chwing's Store / Gardiner, Me. / This Style Picture for 15 Cents / Cases 15 Cents," in Gothic display lettering on white glazed stock; Maine Memory Network documents a near-identical studio card from the same address listing S. C. Stinson as operator, placing this room in the late 1850s. The Manchester, New Hampshire card reads "J. U. French's Ambrotype and Photograph Gallery / No. 6 Union Building / Opposite Merchants Exchange / Manchester, N.H. / All Pictures Warranted to give satisfaction," printed within a decorative typeset border.

The Gardiner card's fifteen-cent price point, lower than the twenty-five-cent Boston competitors in the companion group, reflects the smaller market and keener competition among rural New England studios. The reverse of the Clinton card bears adhesive residue and lacquer staining consistent with case use, and a manuscript note on the reverse of the Shattuck card reads "Ambrotype without glass."

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