Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

Winter Photographic History Auction 2026

Sat, Jan 31, 2026 01:00PM EST
Lot 276

Cabinet Card Portrait of an Interracial Couple, Coffeyville, Kansas, circa 1880s

Estimate: $300 - $500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
Albumen cabinet card studio portrait depicting a seated white man and a standing woman of Native American or mixed Indigenous ancestry, photographed in Coffeyville, Kansas. The man is formally dressed in a three-piece suit with bow tie, holding a felt hat, while the woman wears traditional Indigenous clothing including a woven dress, fringed shawl, beaded necklace, and distinctive footwear. The pairing and presentation strongly suggest a marital or familial relationship rather than a novelty or ethnographic pose.

The photographer’s imprint at the lower mount reads Coffeyville, Kansas, placing the image in southeastern Kansas during a period of significant cultural intersection following Indian Removal, westward settlement, and the growth of railroad towns. Interracial marriages between white settlers and Native women were present but socially complex in this region and period, making documented studio portraits of such couples comparatively uncommon.

The photograph is well composed, with period studio furnishings and painted backdrop, and reflects the conventions of late 19th-century cabinet photography while offering important social and historical context. Mount and image show typical light wear and toning consistent with age; no significant losses noted.

A strong example of frontier-era photography documenting interracial relationships, Native presence in post-Removal Kansas, and the social realities of the American West.

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