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 324

Cabinet Card, Three Native American Men in Regalia

Estimate: $300 - $500
Starting Bid
$150

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
Three Native American men stand together in a full-length studio portrait on this cabinet card, almost certainly produced in the 1880s given the mount proportions and albumen print tonality. No photographer's imprint appears on the reverse. The subjects are unidentified, though the formal studio setting and richly detailed regalia suggest this may have been made during a delegation visit or at a frontier town studio accustomed to such sittings.

The figure at left wears a full trailing war bonnet of eagle feathers with a roach base and carries a feathered ornament at his side, paired with a plaid trade-cloth wrap and fringed moccasins. The central figure holds a painted ceremonial shield decorated with a quartered circular motif and wears a checked shirt with long fringe-cut leggings. The figure at right is dressed in a boldly patterned vest over a white shirt, fringed leggings, and beaded ankle wraps.

Studio backdrop foliage and scattered straw on the floor are visible at ground level, details typical of frontier photographers who styled outdoor ambience indoors for Native portrait sittings in this era.

The reverse shows no photographer's imprint; a partially legible paper label remnant appears in the upper left corner with no readable text.

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