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 158

Cabinet Card, Native American "Old Crow," D.F. Barry, West Superior

Estimate: $400 - $600
Starting Bid
$200

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
A standing full-length portrait of a Native American "Old Crow" fills this cabinet card, made by D. F. Barry at his West Superior, Wisconsin studio, almost certainly during the late 1880s or early 1890s when Barry was most active in documenting Plains Indian leaders. Barry was one of the foremost photographers of Native American subjects of his era, maintaining close relationships with Hunkpapa Lakota leaders and producing an extensive catalog of portraits that he advertised for sale by mail.

The subject wears a dark button-front vest over bare arms, metal armband cuffs on each bicep, a large shell or bone disc at the throat, and long braids wrapped in fur or cloth, with a single upright feather at the crown. A long strand of beads descends to the floor, a plaid trade cloth wrap sits at the waist, and moccasins are visible at his feet, with a woven blanket and what appears to be a quirt lying on the studio floor beside him.

The reverse bears a printed red-ink imprint featuring an engraved portrait of Chief Gall above the text "D. F. Barry, Photographer, West Superior, Wis. Photographs of all the Noted Indians. Catalogues Mailed on Application."

From the collection of James Lee Soffer

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