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 425

Sixth Plate Tintype, Bearded Man with Satchel, Possible Doctor

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 bearded man poses with deliberate confidence in this sixth plate tintype, most likely produced in the 1860s based on the image format, mat style, and clothing. He is seated three-quarter length with his right arm draped over a chair back, his hand resting atop a small leather satchel placed on a floral-upholstered surface. The satchel, prominently displayed and centrally positioned in the composition, appears to be a professional bag with buckled strap closures, lending weight to the suggestion that the subject may have been a physician or similar professional who chose the bag as a deliberate occupational identifier.

The subject wears a dark frock coat over a waistcoat, with a loosely knotted cravat and an open collar revealing a white shirt beneath. His full, dark beard is long and untrimmed, his hair combed back tightly at the sides, and his direct gaze is steady and self-assured. A watch chain is faintly visible crossing the waistcoat front.

The tintype is housed in a leather case with a gilt floral and rope-patterned brass mat and a deep red embossed velvet pad on the interior lid. No photographer's imprint is visible.

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