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 307

Real Photo Postcard, Five Men Eating Watermelon

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 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
Five unidentified men pose in exaggerated comic fashion for this real photo postcard, each holding an oversized slice of watermelon to his face in a coordinated studio gag. The undivided-back format and single-weight stock are consistent with early real photo postcard production, placing the image in the first decade of the twentieth century. No photographer's imprint appears on the reverse.

Three men stand in the back row while two sit in carved wooden chairs at the front, all wearing light-colored collarless shirts, dark trousers with leather belts, and lace-up leather shoes. The front-row figures have their mouths stretched wide open against the rind, and the seated man at far left has one leg crossed casually over the other. The painted studio backdrop with soft tonal gradients is typical of commercial portrait work of the era.

The undivided-back reverse carries the printed headings "POST CARD," "CORRESPONDENCE HERE," and "NAME AND ADDRESS HERE" with no written message or addressee. A penciled notation reading "LOBCZ 11/27/04" appears along the right edge, likely a later collector or dealer reference.

From the collection of James Lee Soffer

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