Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

2026 European Photography Auction

Wed, Oct 28, 2026 01:00PM EDT
  2026-10-28 13:00:00 2026-10-28 13:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : 2026 European Photography Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/2026-european-photography-auction-24401
Our October auction focuses on historic European photography, we are offering a curated collection of fine and erotic daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, CDV, cabinet cards, stereoviews, and a range of curious and uncommon nineteenth-century European vernacular material. At the center of the sale is a collection of images from the Paris Commune of 1871 and the surrounding “année terrible,” the year of war, siege, insurrection, and reprisal that reshaped France. The focus is on the people who drove those events and lived through their aftermath, and on the city that bore the damage.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 102

Cabinet Card, Union Jack Costume and Decorated Bicycle, Acton

Estimate: $200 - $300
Starting Bid
$10

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
A woman poses alongside a bicycle entirely covered in Union Jack decorations in this striking hand-colored cabinet card, made by J. F. Upjohn of 201 High Street, Acton, London W. The elaborate patriotic display, consistent with a late Victorian jubilee or royal celebration, is rendered with vivid applied color across both the photograph and its subject, making it one of the more visually ambitious examples of the genre. The studio advertised enlargements in carbon, platinotype, and opal, indicating a well-appointed West London practice active in the 1890s.

The subject wears a long coat and broad-brimmed hat constructed entirely from red, white, and blue Union Jack fabric, with her auburn hair worn loose over her shoulders. The bicycle beside her is festooned with Union Jack bunting, circular rosettes, fresh flowers woven through the spokes and frame, a large flag panel mounted above the handlebars, and additional flag-wrapped decorations covering both wheels. Every visible surface of the machine has been dressed for the occasion.

The setting is an outdoor garden backed by a wooden fence and dense foliage, suggesting the photograph was taken on location rather than in a studio. The hand coloring is applied with unusual care, distinguishing the red, white, and blue of the costume and decorations from the green of the surrounding vegetation, and from the natural tones of the subject's complexion and hair.

Photographer's imprint on the recto reads "J. F. Upjohn, Acton, W." The verso carries the printed legend "Portrait, Group & Architectural Photography, Enlargements & Artistic Photographs in Carbon Platinotype & Opal, J. F. Upjohn, 201 High Street, Acton, London W." with a blank reorder line: "Copies from this negative can always be obtained by sending No."

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We ship for free on combined lot values of $500 or higher in the United States. We will be traveling to Paris November 8-14th and can deliver any of our items at Paris Photo or the show on Saturday.