1856 portrait of New York's first licensed Black lawyer sold for $230,400
A photograph that fetched $882 at a New York auction last year has now been identified as a portrait of George Boyer Vashon, the first licensed African American lawyer in New York State. Experts recognized its historical significance, leading Sotheby's to auction it for an astonishing $230,400, far surpassing its initial estimate. This revelation underscores the profound impact of historical…
In 1856, the first licensed Black lawyer in New York State, George Boyer Vashon, sat for a portrait that has recently fetched a remarkable $230,400 at an auction. The photograph, taken by 19th-century photographer Philip Haas, was initially listed as a portrait of an unknown man wearing spectacles at Christie's, with an estimated value of $1,000 to $1,500.
The identity of the man in the photograph was uncovered by a photography specialist, Emily Bierman, who discovered a signature and an inscription inside the case. The details revealed that the portrait was made by Philip Haas in 1856 and depicted George Boyer Vashon, who became an influential advocate for civil rights. The photograph, a sixth-plate daguerreotype with hand-applied coloring and gilt detailing, was part of the Maillet Daguerreotype Collection before being sold at Sotheby's for more than two and a half times its estimated value.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
