Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-06-24 11:00:00 2026-06-24 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/june-2026-vernacular-photo-history-auction-23574
Our June 2026 auction presents a focused and exceptional selection of historical photographs spanning the 1840s through the early twentieth century, with unusual depth in named subjects, rare formats, and documented provenance anchored by strong vernacular material that rewards close looking.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 466

Cabinet Card, Three Risque Performers in Stage Costume, Newsboy, New York

Estimate: $100 - $200
Starting Bid
$50

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$100 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $5,000
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
Three women in matching risque performance costumes stand together in a full-length studio grouping in this cabinet card published by the Newsboy Tobacco Company of New York, whose name and city appear in red script and printed lettering along the lower mount border. The albumen print dates to the 1880s or 1890s and was produced as a premium to be distributed with the purchase of Newsboy tobacco products, a widely documented practice by which the company circulated celebrity and theatrical portraits as collectible trade cards.

All three subjects wear identical dark satin-like corset bodices with deep scoop necklines and short capped sleeves banded at the upper arm, draped white overskirts gathered at the hips, dark fitted shorts beneath, light-colored tights, and low flat slippers. Each woman wears her dark hair pinned up close to the head. The central figure faces the camera directly while the women flanking her turn slightly inward, the rightmost figure gazing upward. Their poses are relaxed and self-assured.

The Newsboy series was used for advertising purposes by the Newsboy Tobacco Company, which gave away celebrity photographs as premiums upon the sale of tobacco products. Cards in this series frequently featured theatrical performers, burlesque actresses, and variety entertainers in stage dress, making this trio portrait a characteristic example of the genre. The subjects are unidentified.

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