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 260

CDV Pair, Seyyid Mustafa Ben-Yusuf, W. & A.H. Fry, Brighton

Estimate: $50 - $100
Starting Bid
$25

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
Two albumen cartes de visite depicting Seyyid Mustafa Ben-Yusuf, an Algerian-born lecturer and convert active in England from 1862, photographed by W. & A.H. Fry, Art Photographers and Miniature Painters, 68 East Street, Brighton, circa 1870. The pair comprises a full-length studio portrait and a bust portrait, both produced by the same Brighton firm and bearing matching Arabic inscriptions in the subject's hand.

The full-length card shows Ben-Yusuf standing before a painted desert backdrop featuring a tent, camel, palm trees, and a seated figure, dressed in traditional Algerian robes with a striped headdress and holding a rifle. The bust portrait presents a close three-quarter view, the subject bearded and turbaned, his expression direct. Both cards carry handwritten Arabic inscriptions reading السيد مصطفى موسى بن يوسف, translating as Al-Sayyid Mustafa Musa ibn Yusuf.

Ben-Yusuf came to England from Paris for the Great Exhibition of 1862 and subsequently lectured across Britain for the Moslem Missionary Society in full Bedouin dress, illustrating Arab life and customs. He studied at Caius College, Cambridge. His daughter Zaida Ben-Yusuf, born in London in 1869, became one of the leading portrait photographers in America. Additional portraits of the subject are held in the Wellcome Collection.

The reverse of one card is printed with studio text: "Negatives Kept. Copies May Be Had. An Enlargement Can Be Made At Any Time From This Negative." The second card reverse bears a handwritten notation reading: "No. Es-Seyyid Mustafa Musa Ben. Gurat / Pose."

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