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 561

Stereoview, Grand Hotel, New Montgomery St, San Francisco

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
The Grand Hotel on New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, is the subject of this albumen stereoview published by Thomas Houseworth & Co., operating from No. 9 Montgomery Street under the Lick House. The view was made in the early 1870s, when the Grand Hotel stood as one of San Francisco's most prominent commercial lodgings, and Houseworth's firm was among the most prolific publishers of West Coast stereographic views.

The image captures the hotel's imposing Second Empire facade from a slightly elevated vantage point, revealing multiple stories of arched windows with ornamental keystones, a mansard roof with dormer windows, and a distinctive octagonal cupola at the corner crown. A horse-drawn streetcar moves along the foreground tracks, and posted broadside bills are visible at street level on the building's lower facade.

The Grand Hotel, completed in 1870 and designed by architect William Patton, occupied the block bounded by New Montgomery, Mission, and Annie Streets, and was built by William Ralston as part of his ambitious plan to develop New Montgomery as San Francisco's premier commercial boulevard.

The front of the orange mount is printed "San Francisco, By Thomas Houseworth & Co." The caption beneath the right image reads "180. The Grand Hotel, New Montgomery street front, San Francisco." The right side of the mount reads "No. 9 Montgomery St. (under Lick House), S.F. Photographs made to order, in any part of the State or Coast."

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