Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

Winter Photographic History Auction 2026

Sat, Jan 31, 2026 01:00PM EST
  2026-01-31 13:00:00 2026-01-31 13:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : Winter Photographic History Auction 2026 https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/winter-photographic-history-auction-2026-21839
We are pleased to present our Winter Photography Auction, opening January 31 at 1:00 PM Eastern, featuring approximately 270 individual lots spanning the full breadth of 19th- and early 20th-century photography. The sale brings together landmark historical images, rare early photographic processes, and a deep selection of vernacular material created outside the conventions of formal studio portraiture. Collectively, these works offer a direct, unfiltered record of American life, identity, conflict, labor, and memory during photography’s formative century.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 284

Mounted Albumen Photograph, Western Cattle Roundup Scene

Estimate: $100 - $200
Starting Bid
$50

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
Mounted albumen photograph depicting a cattle roundup in an open western landscape. A mounted rider occupies the foreground, with a herd of cattle spread across a grassy plain beneath a low, rocky butte or mesa. Additional riders and animals appear dispersed in the midground, emphasizing scale and distance. The image is horizontally oriented and appears to date to the late 19th century based on subject matter, photographic style, and mount format. No photographer’s imprint or printed title is visible on the recto.

The composition reflects vernacular western documentary photography, focused on working cattle operations rather than studio or promotional imagery. The elevated landform anchors the scene and suggests a Plains or High Plains setting, though no specific location is identified within the image. The photograph appears intended as a general record of ranching activity rather than a named event or site.

Albumen print measuring approximately 4.25 x 7.25 inches, mounted on a plain 8 x 10 inch card. The verso is unprinted, with a small handwritten pencil note reading “Huffman?” indicating a tentative or uncertain attribution rather than a confirmed identification.

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