Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-06-24 11:00:00 2026-06-24 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : June 2026 Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/june-2026-vernacular-photo-history-auction-23574
Our June 2026 auction presents a focused and exceptional selection of historical photographs spanning the 1840s through the early twentieth century, with unusual depth in named subjects, rare formats, and documented provenance anchored by strong vernacular material that rewards close looking.
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 129

Tintype, Seated Civil War Soldier, Patriotic Mat

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 $5,000
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
A ninth-plate tintype portrait of an unidentified young man, almost certainly a Civil War soldier, presented within a heavily embossed gilt paper mat decorated with crossed cannons, artillery wheels, and spread eagles, motifs consistent with patriotic Union-era cases and mounts produced during the 1861 to 1865 period. The image is housed in an oval window mat and retains its original thermoplastic or wood-backed case frame. No photographer's imprint is visible.

The subject sits in a three-quarter pose with his gaze directed slightly off camera, wearing a dark sack coat with visible button closures at the collar consistent with military issue or civilian dress of the period. He has dark, side-parted hair, a mustache, and a composed, upright expression. His right arm rests across a studio posing table draped with a boldly patterned floral cloth, a common studio prop of the era.

The patriotic embossed mat with cannon and eagle imagery was widely used during the Civil War years specifically for soldier portraits, lending strong contextual support to the military identification noted by the seller.

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