Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

May Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, May 6, 2026 11:00AM EDT
Lot 296

Cabinet Card of King of Tramps, by C.D. Smith

Estimate: $100 - $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 $2,500

Albumen cabinet card portrait of an unidentified tramp holding a cane, photographed by C. D. Smith Photo Co., 17 Main St., Waterville, Maine, circa 1880s–1890s. The man is shown standing outdoors or against a lightly printed scenic backdrop, wearing a round hat and work shirt with suspenders. He holds a cane in one hand and a small bundle or cloth bag in the other, with a pair of spectacles hanging from a cord at his neck.

A contemporary manuscript inscription on the mount reads “His Royal Highness Prince of Tramps,” suggesting the subject may have been known locally as a tramp or itinerant figure and that the portrait was intended humorously or descriptively rather than as a formal identification.

The mount is printed “C. D. Smith Photo Co., 17 Main St., Waterville, Me.” The photograph is presented as a full-length figure study emphasizing clothing, equipment, and personal effects.

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