Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

September 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Sat, Sep 19, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-09-19 11:00:00 2026-09-19 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : September 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/september-2026-vernacular-photo-history-auction-24380
Our September 2026 auction is anchored by two remarkable private collections, together making up about half the sale, alongside a broader selection of consignments spanning early photography, Civil War material, and vernacular imagery. The Soffer Collection, built with an eye for rarity and historical significance, is particularly strong in vernacular portraiture, Native American photographs, and Iowa Civil War imagery. The Palmer, Massachusetts collection, much of it found at Brimfield, centers on maker-marked daguerreotypes from the golden age of the American daguerreian studio.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 420

Ninth Plate Daguerreotypes, Two Children, One Holding a Doll

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 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
Two unidentified children are preserved together in a double ninth plate daguerreotype set, housed in a matching thermoplastic case with Gothic arch and cross motifs embossed across both exterior panels. The boy at left sits in a carved chair wearing a dark double-breasted jacket with two rows of bright buttons and ribbed trousers, resting one hand on the chair arm while the other holds a small book or slate. The girl at right wears a short-sleeved dress with contrasting band trim at the sleeves and holds a small rag doll against her lap, with a second doll figure pinned or tucked at her chest.

The boy's solemn expression and direct gaze contrast with the girl's equally serious countenance, both common to the long exposures required by the daguerreotype process. The girl's curly hair falls loosely around her face, while the boy's is cut straight across the forehead in a style typical of young children in the 1850s. The inclusion of two distinct playthings in a single sitting makes this pair particularly desirable among toy and childhood ephemera collectors.

Both images are set behind oval mats with gilt frames, backed by orange velvet pads, with no photographer's imprint visible on either plate or within the case interior.

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