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 466

Sixth Plate Daguerreotype, Couple, by Bogardus, New York

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 sixth plate daguerreotype of a seated couple, made by Abraham Bogardus at his Greenwich Street gallery in New York City, most likely between 1852 and 1860 when he operated at 229 Greenwich Street. The image is presented in a leather case with embossed floral and scrollwork decoration on both covers, lined in red velvet, and retains its original gilded mat stamped "BOGARDUS" along the lower border. Applied hand-coloring is visible on the woman's ring and on both subjects' faces.

The man wears a dark frock coat, patterned waistcoat, and a wide white cravat with a bow tie, his dark hair worn long to the collar and a chin beard neatly groomed. The woman is dressed in a dark gown with a full lace collar gathered at the throat by a brooch, her hair swept up beneath a small dark cap, and her hands are folded in her lap displaying a ring on one finger.

Abraham Bogardus (1822–1908) learned the daguerreotype process from George W. Prosch around 1845 and opened his first Broadway gallery in 1846, going on to serve as the founding president of the National Photographic Association from 1868 to 1874 and to produce an estimated 200,000 daguerreotypes over his career. The name "BOGARDUS" is embossed in raised capitals on the front of the leather case, a known identification feature of his studio production.

The photographer's imprint "BOGARDUS" appears embossed on the lower front mat of the case.

Property of a Palmer, Massachusetts gentleman.

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