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 469

Sixth Plate Daguerreotype, Elderly Man, by Lawrence

Estimate: $200 - $300
Starting Bid
$100

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
An elderly man is portrayed in this sixth plate daguerreotype, housed in a leather case and attributed to a photographer operating under the Lawrence imprint, most likely dating to the late 1840s or 1850s. The name "LAWRENCE" is embossed directly into the gilt mat below the image, a distinctive presentation associated with several daguerreotypists of that surname active during this period, including Martin M. Lawrence of New York, one of the most celebrated American daguerreotypists of the era.

The subject is bald across the crown with white fringe hair at the temples, and wears a dark frock coat over a patterned waistcoat, with a loosely knotted white cravat at the collar. His right hand is raised across his chest with fingers gently curled, and he turns his body slightly to his left while meeting the camera with a composed, direct gaze. The gilt mat frames the portrait within a finely reeded oval.

The leather case features embossed scrollwork on the front panel and a radiating star burst motif on the rear panel, with gold-tone zigzag border trim on all edges. The interior presents a deeply embossed crimson velvet pad with a floral urn design on the opposite leaf.

The photographer's name "LAWRENCE" is embossed in capital letters on the lower portion of the gilt mat.

Property of a Palmer, Massachusetts gentleman.

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