Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

Spring Photographic History Auction

Sat, May 3, 2025 01:00PM EDT
  2025-05-03 13:00:00 2025-05-03 13:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : Spring Photographic History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/spring-photographic-history-auction-19217
Raw, rare, and unforgettable—this is 19th- and early 20th-century photography at its best. Vernacular portraits, Native American warriors, African American resilience, Mormon pioneers, Western frontier families, and stark post-mortem scenes. Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, CDVs, and cabinet cards that capture real life without filters. Every image tells a story of survival, pride, and change. A museum-worthy collection for those who know real American history when they see it.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 274

Cabinet Card of the 1882 West Point Class Cup

Estimate: $100 - $200
Starting Bid
$50

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Offered here is an exquisite cabinet card featuring the 1882 West Point Class Cup, a stunning piece of silver craftsmanship likely produced by Tiffany or Gorham in the height of the Aesthetic Movement. The goblet, richly ornamented with repoussé ivy and detailed classical motifs, reflects the refined taste and institutional pride of the U.S. Military Academy during the late 19th century.

Photographed by the renowned Pach Brothers studio at 841 Broadway, New York City (with their distinctive crest and extensive list of Ivy League branch locations on verso), this image captures not just the gleam of silver, but the symbolic weight of military tradition and artistic excellence. Crisp details highlight the hammered texture, fine florals, and script lettering that wrap the cup—elements suggesting both the elegance and formality of an elite academic tradition.

The reverse bears the period ink inscription: “1882 Class Cup.” Cabinet card is in excellent condition with minor edge wear and no major creases or stains. A rarely seen subject with crossover appeal to collectors of photographic ephemera, West Point memorabilia, silver and metalwork, or Aesthetic-era decorative arts.

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