Glimpses: Vintage, Fine, and Vernacular Photography by Potter & Potter Auctions

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Glimpses: Vintage, Fine, and Vernacular Photography

Start: Jul 23, 2026 11:00AM EDT

Auction ended

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This diverse sale - made up of fine, vintage, and vernacular photographs - will focus closely on the snapshot. Once considered mere "fabrics of yesteryear," these fleeting images have been recently reclaimed by the collecting community, and appreciated for their candid, historical, and visual depth. Prices Realized

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Spirit photograph carte de visite.

Lot 1

Spirit photograph carte de visite.

Estimate

$400 - $600

1 Bid

Sold for

$240

Amusing Spirit Photograph. Brighton, late 19th century.

Lot 2

Amusing Spirit Photograph. Brighton, late 19th century.

Estimate

$1,500 - $2,000

11 Bids

Sold for

$1,875

Trick Photograph of Head in Bottle.

Lot 3

Trick Photograph of Head in Bottle.

Estimate

$400 - $600

1 Bid

Sold for

$240

(Headless Trick Photograph) CDV of Man Smoking a Pipe.

Lot 4

(Headless Trick Photograph) CDV of Man Smoking a Pipe.

Estimate

$1,500 - $2,000

1 Bid

Sold for

$840

(Headless Trick Photograph) CDV of Seated Man with Cane.

Lot 5

(Headless Trick Photograph) CDV of Seated Man with Cane.

Estimate

$1,200 - $1,800

1 Bid

Sold for

$720

RPPC of Three Heads on Bottle / Glasses.

Lot 6

RPPC of Three Heads on Bottle / Glasses.

Estimate

$200 - $300

1 Bid

Sold for

$120

Greeting Card Depicting Black Cat and Floating Head. Circa 1920s-30s.

Lot 7

Greeting Card Depicting Black Cat and Floating Head. Circa 1920s-30s.

Estimate

$200 - $300

2 Bids

Sold for

$150

(Headless Trick Photograph) Cabinet Card of Man Holding His Head Up High.

Lot 8

(Headless Trick Photograph) Cabinet Card of Man Holding His Head Up High.

Estimate

$800 - $1,200

Unsold

HORNUNG, J.W. (Headless Trick Photograph) Cabinet Card Depicting Decapitation by Guillotine.

Lot 9

HORNUNG, J.W. (Headless Trick Photograph) Cabinet Card Depicting Decapitation by Guillotine.

Estimate

$1,500 - $3,000

Unsold

(Headless Trick Photograph) Snapshot of Four Men Holding Canes.

Lot 10

(Headless Trick Photograph) Snapshot of Four Men Holding Canes.

Estimate

$400 - $800

1 Bid

Sold for

$240

(Headless Trick Photograph) Cabinet Card of Man Staring at His Own Head.

Lot 11

(Headless Trick Photograph) Cabinet Card of Man Staring at His Own Head.

Estimate

$1,200 - $1,800

1 Bid

Sold for

$720

(Headless Trick Photograph) Glass Plate Negative. Early 20th Century.

Lot 12

(Headless Trick Photograph) Glass Plate Negative. Early 20th Century.

Estimate

$3,000 - $6,000

Unsold

SAVAGE, Karen (American, 1948-2017). Untitled. Unique Photogram / Silver Gelatin Print of a Dress. Circa 2010.

Lot 13

SAVAGE, Karen (American, 1948-2017). Untitled. Unique Photogram / Silver Gelatin Print of a Dress. Circa 2010.

Estimate

$600 - $800

2 Bids

Sold for

$375

SAVAGE, Karen (American, 1948-2017). Untitled. Three Unique Photograms of a Child's Christening Dress or Top. Circa 2010.

Lot 14

SAVAGE, Karen (American, 1948-2017). Untitled. Three Unique Photograms of a Child's Christening Dress or Top. Circa 2010.

Estimate

$600 - $800

2 Bids

Sold for

$375

Group of Four Polaroid Photographs with Spirit Photography Effect. 1970s.

Lot 15

Group of Four Polaroid Photographs with Spirit Photography Effect. 1970s.

Estimate

$100 - $200

2 Bids

Sold for

$62.50

Snapshot of Skeletons Drinking and Smoking.

Lot 16

Snapshot of Skeletons Drinking and Smoking.

Estimate

$50 - $100

7 Bids

Sold for

$218.75

Charles Dickens Cabinet Card Photograph. (Trimmed). Mid 19th Century.

Lot 17

Charles Dickens Cabinet Card Photograph. (Trimmed). Mid 19th Century.

Estimate

$150 - $300

Unsold

Press Photograph of Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. 1918.

Lot 18

Press Photograph of Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. 1918.

Estimate

$100 - $200

1 Bid

Sold for

$60

MILLIE-CHRISTINE (Millie and Christine McKoy, 1851-1912). Cabinet card portrait. Circa 1890s.

Lot 19

MILLIE-CHRISTINE (Millie and Christine McKoy, 1851-1912). Cabinet card portrait. Circa 1890s.

Estimate

$300 - $500

8 Bids

Sold for

$343.75

Group Portrait in Theatrical Fancy Dress Costumes. Circa late 19th century.

Lot 20

Group Portrait in Theatrical Fancy Dress Costumes. Circa late 19th century.

Estimate

$80 - $120

Unsold

Cabinet Card of Uriah Hagans and Two Other Musicians. Circa late 19th/early 20th century.

Lot 21

Cabinet Card of Uriah Hagans and Two Other Musicians. Circa late 19th/early 20th century.

Estimate

$80 - $120

Unsold

Cabinet Card of a Group of Children, One Posed as a Coachman with Miniature Horses. Late 19th century.

Lot 22

Cabinet Card of a Group of Children, One Posed as a Coachman with Miniature Horses. Late 19th century.

Estimate

$100 - $200

1 Bid

Sold for

$60

Boxing Cabinet Card. Circa late 19th century

Lot 23

Boxing Cabinet Card. Circa late 19th century

Estimate

$80 - $120

8 Bids

Sold for

$130

Caricature Photomontage Tintype of Gentleman in Donkey Cart. Patent Dated 1874

Lot 24

Caricature Photomontage Tintype of Gentleman in Donkey Cart. Patent Dated 1874

Estimate

$200 - $300

Unsold

One-Armed African American Lawman. Sixth Plate Tintype Photograph. Late 19th Century.

Lot 25

One-Armed African American Lawman. Sixth Plate Tintype Photograph. Late 19th Century.

Estimate

$200 - $400

2 Bids

Sold for

$150

Tintype Photograph of Costumed Figure with False Beard. Late 19th Century.

Lot 26

Tintype Photograph of Costumed Figure with False Beard. Late 19th Century.

Estimate

$100 - $200

2 Bids

Sold for

$62.50

European Rag-and-Bone Man (“Ragman”) CDV Photograph. Late 19th century.

Lot 27

European Rag-and-Bone Man (“Ragman”) CDV Photograph. Late 19th century.

Estimate

$150 - $250

4 Bids

Sold for

$210

Tintype Portrait of Hidden Father Holding Child. Mid-19th Century.

Lot 28

Tintype Portrait of Hidden Father Holding Child. Mid-19th Century.

Estimate

$200 - $300

2 Bids

Sold for

$125

[Tintype]. Two Men in Fraternal Costume. 1879.

Lot 29

[Tintype]. Two Men in Fraternal Costume. 1879.

Estimate

$150 - $300

1 Bid

Sold for

$96

BRADY, Mathew. Civil War CDV Depicting Assistant Surgeon John L Morris.

Lot 30

BRADY, Mathew. Civil War CDV Depicting Assistant Surgeon John L Morris.

Estimate

$200 - $400

1 Bid

Unsold

19th Century CDV Portrait of Twin Children, Forshew (Hudson, New York)

Lot 31

19th Century CDV Portrait of Twin Children, Forshew (Hudson, New York)

Estimate

$100 - $200

1 Bid

Sold for

$60

Cabinet Card Photograph of Woman, Possibly Japanese. 1880s

Lot 32

Cabinet Card Photograph of Woman, Possibly Japanese. 1880s

Estimate

$100 - $200

Unsold

Cobbler/Shoemaker Cabinet Card. Circa 19th centur

Lot 33

Cobbler/Shoemaker Cabinet Card. Circa 19th centur

Estimate

$80 - $120

3 Bids

Sold for

$72

Bishop William Taylor and Bralah Cabinet Photo. 1892.

Lot 34

Bishop William Taylor and Bralah Cabinet Photo. 1892.

Estimate

$100 - $200

9 Bids

Sold for

$250

[ETHNOGRAPHIC]. Unusual CDV Portrait of Bearded Male with Inscription. 19th century.

Lot 35

[ETHNOGRAPHIC]. Unusual CDV Portrait of Bearded Male with Inscription. 19th century.

Estimate

$150 - $250

Unsold

Courret Hermanos (Lima, Peru) Mummy CDV Photograph.

Lot 36

Courret Hermanos (Lima, Peru) Mummy CDV Photograph.

Estimate

$300 - $500

4 Bids

Sold for

$250

CDV of Armless Man in Patriotic Dress, with a Gun Between Toes.

Lot 37

CDV of Armless Man in Patriotic Dress, with a Gun Between Toes.

Estimate

$300 - $500

1 Bid

Sold for

$180

CDV of George L. Fox in Clown Makeup.

Lot 38

CDV of George L. Fox in Clown Makeup.

Estimate

$300 - $500

Unsold

[BICYCLES]. Large Photograph of 9 Cyclists Posing with 4 Penny-Farthing Bicycles. [N.p., ca. 1880s].

Lot 39

[BICYCLES]. Large Photograph of 9 Cyclists Posing with 4 Penny-Farthing Bicycles. [N.p., ca. 1880s].

Estimate

$150 - $300

17 Bids

Sold for

$687.50

Tintype of 3 Women and a Man on the back of a Camel. 19th century.

Lot 40

Tintype of 3 Women and a Man on the back of a Camel. 19th century.

Estimate

$80 - $120

2 Bids

Sold for

$50

Three 19th Century Australian CDV Portraits of Aboriginal Male Sitter.

Lot 41

Three 19th Century Australian CDV Portraits of Aboriginal Male Sitter.

Estimate

$400 - $600

Unsold

Four tintypes of card players.

Lot 42

Four tintypes of card players.

Estimate

$100 - $150

3 Bids

Sold for

$84

Pair of Cabinet Cards of a Boswell's Fodder and Silo Harvester. Circa 1885.

Lot 43

Pair of Cabinet Cards of a Boswell's Fodder and Silo Harvester. Circa 1885.

Estimate

$100 - $200

2 Bids

Sold for

$72

Three Saddle Cabinet Cards. Circa 19th/20th century.

Lot 44

Three Saddle Cabinet Cards. Circa 19th/20th century.

Estimate

$200 - $300

1 Bid

Sold for

$120

President Garfield Cabinet Card and Presidential Trombinoscope Cabinet Card, two. 19th century.

Lot 45

President Garfield Cabinet Card and Presidential Trombinoscope Cabinet Card, two. 19th century.

Estimate

$150 - $250

4 Bids

Sold for

$210

WATKINS, Carleton (American, 1829-1916) 15 Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, John Muir, San Francisco, etc. Circa 1880s.

Lot 46

WATKINS, Carleton (American, 1829-1916) 15 Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, John Muir, San Francisco, etc. Circa 1880s.

Estimate

$1,500 - $2,500

4 Bids

Sold for

$1,200

100 Antique Photographs of Children. Cabinet Card Mounts / Other Formats. 19th / Early 20th Century.

Lot 47

100 Antique Photographs of Children. Cabinet Card Mounts / Other Formats. 19th / Early 20th Century.

Estimate

$300 - $500

2 Bids

Sold for

$190

54 Cabinet Cards and 23 Carte de Visites. Various Subjects. Late 19th/ Early 20th Century.

Lot 48

54 Cabinet Cards and 23 Carte de Visites. Various Subjects. Late 19th/ Early 20th Century.

Estimate

$250 - $350

16 Bids

Sold for

$593.75

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