Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
Lot 505

Real Photo Postcard, Two Little People in Tuxedos Seated on Suitcase

Estimate: $25 - $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 midgets identified on the reverse as Bill and Jack are portrayed in this real photo postcard printed on Defender-brand paper stock, a product manufactured from the 1930s through the mid-twentieth century. Both men are dressed in identical miniature tuxedos complete with satin lapels, white dress shirts, and bow ties, each wearing a small boutonniere on the left lapel. The studio portrait is set against a plain light background with a bare wooden floor visible beneath.

The men are seated side by side atop a single hard-sided travel suitcase with a striped ribbed shell and visible corner hardware, with the child on the right gripping the center handle. Both wear small leather lace-up dress shoes, and the man on the left turns slightly toward the camera with a faint smile while his companion faces forward with a more composed expression. The matching attire and deliberate staging suggest this was a formal occasion portrait.

The suitcase used as a prop, combined with the formal dress and postcard format, points to a mid-twentieth century studio sitting likely intended as a keepsake or greeting. Defender photo paper was distributed widely across the United States and was commonly used by commercial portrait studios during this period.

The reverse reads in pencil: "Hello from Bill and Jack." Additional notations read: "DOLAXZ 3/18/06 BP." The Defender brand diamond logo appears in the upper right corner of the reverse.

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