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 481

Cabinet Card, Unidentified Ventriloquist with Dummy, Outdoor

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
An unidentified ventriloquist sits outdoors on a low bench beside his full-body dummy in this snapshot photograph mounted on a plain gray card stock board. The photograph is an informal outdoor image rather than a studio portrait, set against a porch railing with turned balusters and a wooden building facade. No studio imprint appears on the front or reverse.

The man wears a dark suit with a striped necktie and leans forward with one hand resting on his knee, smiling broadly at the camera. The dummy beside him is a full-body lap figure dressed in a dark suit with a bow tie and white shirt, its hinged jaw mouth open wide in a grinning expression, white spats visible above black shoes. Both subjects are seated on the same low bench on a grass and bare-earth surface, with dappled outdoor light casting strong shadows.

Informal outdoor ventriloquist photographs of this type, taken outside the studio setting, are less common than the formal promotional cabinet card format and offer a candid view of the performer in a domestic or residential context rather than a staged theatrical presentation.

The mount measures approximately 4 x 5 inches, with the photograph affixed within a recessed window on a plain gray board. No reverse imprint or inscription is visible.

Available payment options

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Amex
  • Diners
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • Union Pay
PayPal

All SHIPPING IS FREE for purchases above $500, buyers to pay insurance at $2 per $100.