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 484

Cabinet Card, Boy Ventriloquist with Two Dummies, Hanley

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
A young boy sits on an ornately carved studio bench holding two ventriloquist dummies, one on each knee, in this full-length cabinet card produced by H.J. Gover and Co., Artists and Photographers, 53 Piccadilly, Hanley, with the studio imprint in script along the lower front border and the full reverse imprint in decorative typography. The boy appears to be approximately eight to ten years of age, presenting this as either a child performer's promotional portrait or a novelty family photograph with the dummies treated as props.

The boy wears a dark double-breasted jacket with knee breeches, dark stockings, and lace-up boots, a watch chain visible at his chest, and looks directly at the camera with a composed expression. The dummy at his left knee is dressed in a boy's sailor-collar coat with dark curly hair and an open hinged mouth. The dummy at his right knee wears a girl's dark dress with a large lace collar and light curled hair, its expression more placid. A heavily patterned velvet drape fills the background and a carved side table with scroll and foliate decoration is visible at left.

The reverse bears the full H.J. Gover and Co. imprint identifying the studio as Artists and Photographers at 53 Piccadilly, Hanley, with printed assurances that negatives were preserved and copies could be ordered at any time, enlarged or reduced and finished in oil or watercolor. The penciled catalog notation reads "8/19/07 / DOLAXCZ / Eb."

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