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 555

Stereoview, Geyser Hotel, Geyser Springs, Cal, J. J. Reilly

Estimate: $50 - $100
Starting Bid
$25

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
The Geyser Hotel at Geyser Springs, California, is documented here in an albumen stereoview published by J. J. Reilly as part of his "Views of American Scenery" series, issued from San Francisco likely in the early 1870s. Reilly operated from P.O. Box 420, San Francisco, and was among the most prolific stereo publishers on the Pacific Coast, distributing through retailers including C. Beach, Books and Stationery, of Montgomery Street, San Francisco, whose imprint appears on the reverse. The orange-mounted card format and series title lettering printed vertically along both side margins are characteristic of Reilly's production during this period.

The elevated vantage point captures the hotel's long covered veranda flanked by mature deciduous trees, with a steep hillside densely wooded with conifers rising directly behind the complex. Several outbuildings are visible to the right, a timber frame structure that appears to be a swing or derrick stands at left, and figures can be discerned along the veranda and grounds below.

Geyser Springs was a celebrated resort destination in Sonoma County, drawing visitors for its natural hot springs, and the hotel seen here served as the principal accommodation for tourists making the journey from San Francisco throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century.

The front mount bears the printed caption "Geyser Hotel, Geyser Springs, Cal." The reverse carries the J. J. Reilly advertisement text in full, a C. Beach book seller stamp, and a handwritten notation "m" in pencil at the upper left.

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.