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 390

Sixth Plate Daguerreotype, Man in Horse-Drawn Cart

Estimate: $500 - $700
Starting Bid
$250

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 man seated in a canopied two-wheeled cart poses before a substantial masonry building, recorded in a sixth plate daguerreotype that dates most plausibly to the 1850s. The outdoor setting, full lateral view of the rig, and the ambition to photograph a horse in harness rather than a sitter in a studio reflect a relatively uncommon use of the daguerreotype process. No photographer's imprint is visible on the mat or case.

The horse stands in profile, harnessed with a full breast collar and traces, its legs and chest rendered with surprising sharpness given the scale. The cart is a light, open-sided chaise with a folding hood, tall spoked wheels front and rear, and a single passenger bench; the driver sits upright holding the reins. Behind the rig, a plastered building displays three tall arched openings, two fitted with multi-pane windows and one serving as an open doorway.

The leather case is embossed on both covers with a repeating floral and scroll pattern, and the interior lid retains its original burgundy velvet pad with a pressed floral medallion at center.

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