Michael Lehr Antiques
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June Auction

Wed, Jun 17, 2026 12:00PM EDT
  2026-06-17 12:00:00 2026-06-17 12:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : June Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/june-auction-23036
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 153

Tintype Portrait Mounted on 1880 Baseball Advertisement Card

Estimate: $50 - $1,000
Starting Bid
$10

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
Unusual photographic curiosity consisting of a small tintype portrait mounted to the reverse of an illustrated baseball advertising card dated 1880. The tintype shows a young woman in a straightforward bust-length portrait, wearing a ruffled blouse with decorative bow and a shawl draped over her shoulders. Her hair is arranged in a high braided style typical of the late nineteenth century. The tintype plate has been trimmed and affixed to the otherwise blank reverse of the printed card. The front of the mount features a printed baseball illustration showing a batter and catcher in period uniforms, with the word “Season” and the date “1880.” The design reflects the graphic style of late nineteenth-century baseball ephemera and advertising, with decorative borders and engraved sporting imagery. Pieces combining early photography with printed baseball material are uncommon and create an unusual crossover between photographic and sports collectibles. While the original purpose of the baseball card is uncertain—possibly promotional or advertising material—it was later reused as a backing for the tintype portrait. The result is a distinctive hybrid object combining a personal photographic portrait with early baseball printed ephemera from the 1880 period.

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