Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

September 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Sat, Sep 19, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-09-19 11:00:00 2026-09-19 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : September 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/september-2026-vernacular-photo-history-auction-24380
Our September 2026 auction is anchored by two remarkable private collections, together making up about half the sale, alongside a broader selection of consignments spanning early photography, Civil War material, and vernacular imagery. The Soffer Collection, built with an eye for rarity and historical significance, is particularly strong in vernacular portraiture, Native American photographs, and Iowa Civil War imagery. The Palmer, Massachusetts collection, much of it found at Brimfield, centers on maker-marked daguerreotypes from the golden age of the American daguerreian studio.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 134

Cabinet Card, Chief Debro and Sarah Debro, Bradford, Ind

Estimate: $50 - $100
Starting Bid
$25

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$100 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
Chief Debro, age 43, and his wife Sarah Debro, age 25, are photographed standing together in a full-length portrait made by Bradford of Kendallville, Indiana. Both subjects wear matching floor-length striped robes with long sleeves, presenting a coordinated appearance that suggests a performative or exhibition context typical of sideshow and traveling attraction photography of the late nineteenth century. The card's front mount carries Bradford's imprint in red decorative lettering with the distinctive quotation marks around the word "PHOTO," a stylistic trademark of that studio.

Chief Debro stands at left with a full beard and long wavy hair falling past his shoulders, while Sarah Debro, noticeably shorter in stature, stands at right with long curly hair worn loose. A painted rocky backdrop is visible at the upper right, and both subjects face the camera directly with serious expressions, hands held at their sides.

The pairing of a bearded man with exceptionally long hair alongside a shorter female companion in matched exotic dress is consistent with late nineteenth century exhibition portraiture produced for sale at performances or fairs. Bradford's Kendallville studio was active during the 1880s and 1890s.

A period ink inscription on the verso reads: "Chief Debra age 43 / wife / Sarah Debro age 25."

From the collection of James Lee Soffer

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