arthistorycivil-rightsauctionphotography
Sotheby's Sells 1856 Daguerreotype of George Boyer Vashon for $230,400
Published: October 24, 2026
Sotheby's sold a 1856 daguerreotype of George Boyer Vashon for $230,400 in New York on June 25, 2026, after the portrait—originally sold for $882 at Christie's in June 2025—was identified as the first licensed African‑American lawyer in the state. The discovery, made by photography specialist Emily Bierman, raised the portrait’s value beyond its $90,000 upper estimate and highlighted Vashon’s pivotal role in civil‑rights history.
Christie's listed the daguerreotype as a black‑and‑white portrait of an unknown man in 1850s attire. The 170‑year‑old image fetched $882 at a New York auction in June 2025, well below its estimated $1,000–$1,500 range.
Photography specialist Emily Bierman later examined the photograph and spotted a faded “P Haas NY” signature along with an inscription inside the leather case. Those clues linked the image to 19th‑century photographer Philip Haas and to its sitter, George Boyer Vashon, the first licensed African‑American lawyer in New York.
Vashon’s legacy as an abolitionist and educator amplifies the portrait’s historical value. The identification lifted the piece’s market worth to more than double the upper $90,000 estimate, reflecting its newfound provenance.
Sotheby’s Fine Books and Manuscripts auction on June 25, 2026, priced the daguerreotype at $60,000–$90,000 but received a final bid of $230,400. The sale follows a chain of private ownership that began with Josephine Cobb and later Lynn and Yann Maillet, underscoring the portrait’s journey from obscurity to landmark. The portrait will be shipped to its buyer, who intends to keep it in a private collection.