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 314

Real Photo Postcard, Rider on Indian Motorcycle, Albany WY

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
A young man astride an Indian motorcycle fills the frame of this real photo postcard, produced in the early twentieth century when Indian was among the most celebrated names in American motorcycling. The photograph was made outdoors against the clapboard and cut-stone foundation of a residential building, with two windows visible above, their glass reflecting trees and a distant white structure. No photographer's imprint appears on the reverse.

The rider wears a dark fitted jacket, matching trousers, and leather gloves, with driving goggles pushed up onto his cap. The Indian name is legible in script on the fuel tank, and the machine displays period-correct details including a large round headlamp, exposed engine, exhaust pipes, and a rear luggage carrier. His posture is relaxed and his expression directly engages the camera with a slight smile.

Indian Motorcycle Company, founded in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1901, was the dominant American marque of the early motorcycle era and a fierce rival to Harley-Davidson through the first half of the century. The card's addressed recipient and the sender's inscription together place this image firmly within a personal correspondence circle centered on Albany, Wyoming.

The reverse bears a handwritten message reading "Remembrance, you see I did not forget this time," addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Scheiner, Albany, WY.

From the collection of James Lee Soffer

Available payment options

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Amex
  • Diners
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • Union Pay
PayPal

All SHIPPING of photographs with total purchases above $500 is FREE, buyers to pay insurance at $2 per $100.