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 395

Sixth Plate Daguerreotype, Two Unidentified Children

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
Two unidentified children occupy a sixth-plate daguerreotype housed in a leather case with an embossed floral oval medallion on the exterior cover. The image dates to the 1850s based on dress and format, and no photographer's imprint is visible. The leather interior mat is finished in red with a gilt brass preserver frame enclosing the plate.

The older child on the left wears a wide-brimmed dark hat trimmed with a feather ornament, a dark button-front jacket with a white collar, and stands with one hand placed on the hip. The younger child to the right wears a dark short-sleeved dress, hair parted at center and falling loose to the shoulders, and sits with hands clasped together in the lap.

Both children face the camera directly with serious, composed expressions typical of mid-nineteenth-century portrait convention. The pairing of their dress and poses strongly suggests a sibling relationship.

No inscriptions or photographer's markings are present on the case or plate.

Available payment options

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Amex
  • Diners
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • Union Pay
PayPal

All SHIPPING of photographs with total purchases above $500 is FREE, buyers to pay insurance at $2 per $100.