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 351

Quarter Plate Daguerreotype, Military Officer in Full Dress

Estimate: $800 - $1,000
Starting Bid
$400

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 senior military officer in full dress uniform sits for this quarter plate daguerreotype, almost certainly produced in the late 1840s or early 1850s based on the styling of the uniform and the daguerreotype process itself. The photographer is unidentified, with no imprint visible on the mat or case. The image is set behind a gilt mat with a decoratively embossed border and housed in a leather case with a red fabric interior pad on the cover side.

The subject wears a dark double-breasted coat with two rows of brass buttons, heavily fringed epaulettes at both shoulders denoting senior rank, and a decorated belt plate at the waist. He holds a saber across his lap, its hilt resting in his right hand, and turns his gaze slightly to his left with a composed expression. His hair is light and full at the sides, consistent with a middle-aged man of the period.

The embossed leather exterior of the case bears two distinct decorative panels, one with a floral bouquet motif within a scrolled cartouche and the other with acanthus leaf and berry sprays within a ruled border, typical of American case production of the era.

The lot is a quarter plate daguerreotype. No photographer's imprint is present.

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