Potter & Potter Auctions
Live Auction

Picture This: Fine, Vintage & Vernacular Photography

Thu, Mar 12, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-03-12 11:00:00 2026-03-12 11:00:00 America/New_York Potter & Potter Auctions Potter & Potter Auctions : Picture This: Fine, Vintage & Vernacular Photography https://auction.potterauctions.com/auctions/potter-potter/picture-this-fine-vintage-vernacular-photography-22203
We will be offering a range of fine and vintage photography in this auction, curated by Eric Robbins. Highlights include archives of space photography, Lewis Hine photographs, iconic pop culture imagery, studio and vernacular photographs of the 19th and 20th century in a range of subjects, panoramas, a comprehensive collection of "headless" trick photography, and photo albums.
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Lot 42

Line-Crossing Ceremony / US Navy Drag. Mid-20th century.

Estimate: $200 - $400
Starting Bid
$100

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$30 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

Line-Crossing Ceremony / US Navy Drag. Mid-20th century. Group of 10 B&W photographs documenting the US Navy's "line-crossing" hazing ritual which turns "pollywags" into "shellbacks". The ceremony occurs for sailors who are crossing the equator for the first time and includes a baptism and other rituals in which sailors dress in drag and costumes such as King Neptune, Amphitrite, Davy Jones, a "royal baby". One image is a photomontage collage, stamped verso "Released […] Official photograph of the US Navy".

Smallest 2 ½ x 4; largest 8x10". some creasing and discoloration, good.

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