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 193

Real Photo Postcard, X. Deutsches Bundes Sängerfest Parade

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
A real photo postcard documents the American delegation's procession in the festive parade of the X. Deutsches Bundes Sängerfest, the tenth national German-American choral festival, almost certainly held in the early twentieth century. The Brooklyn, NY banner visible at center identifies the delegation's origin, and the reverse is printed with "X. Deutsches Bundes Sängerfest / Festzug / Amerika," confirming this as an official event image. The card back carries the "Echte Fotographe" (real photograph) designation, placing it within the standard RPPC format of the era.

Two men wearing full feathered war bonnets and fringed regalia stand prominently at the front of the group, flanking a central figure dressed in a Uncle Sam costume complete with top hat, star-spangled coat, and striped trousers who carries an American flag. Surrounding marchers wear white sailor-style caps and dark suits, several displaying medals or ribbons on their lapels, and a stone arched arcade building with globe street lamps fills the background.

The Deutsches Bundes Sängerfest was the premier gathering of German-American singing societies, drawing delegations from across the United States. The Brooklyn contingent's choice to incorporate Native American regalia alongside Uncle Sam imagery reflects common early twentieth-century American pageantry used to signal national identity in international or competitive festival contexts.

The reverse is printed: "X. Deutsches Bundes Sängerfest / Festzug / Amerika," with a penciled notation reading "Rare" and "US" in separate hands.

From the collection of James Lee Soffer

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