Absentee bids let you place your maximum bid on an item before the live auction begins. During the live show, we’ll continue bidding on your behalf up to your max bid — just like leaving a bid with a traditional auctioneer.
When you place an absentee bid, you’ll choose a bid strategy. Your chosen strategy determines how the current bid will be set at the time your bid is placed. Your maximum bid always remains confidential.
The available strategies are:
🐢 Slow & Steady — starts your bid low and lets others chase you.
⚡💥 Power Bid — starts at about half your max to show intent without revealing your top number.
♥️♠️ All In ♦️♣️ — sets the current bid to your full bid amount right away.
The current bid shown on each lot reflects all confirmed absentee bids and updates automatically as new bids come in.
When the live auction starts, bidding will begin at the current bid. The auctioneer will continue bidding on behalf of absentee bidders up to their max bids.
Because absentee bids can arrive seconds apart, the current bid you see may not always include bids still being processed. Refresh the page for the most up-to-date information.
For our full absentee bid policy, please click here.
Bidding Quick Facts
How bidding works
All items have a minimum bid of $1.00.
When "No Bids" is displayed, it means no absentee bids have been placed on this item yet.
Once bids are placed, the current bid will be displayed instead.
For more information on the bidding process, please click here.
Bid Successfully Submitted!
Your absentee bid for Lot 149 - Antique Carte De Visite CDV Photograph Of General Tom Thumb And Wife Lavinia Warren, Circus Performers Of P. T. Barnum Fame was successfully submitted—thank you for bidding with us!
The current bid displayed will not update immediately. You will receive a confirmation email shortly.
You may continue to place additional bids.
For our full absentee bid policy, please review the Auction Rules.
Confirm Bid
Lot 149 - Antique Carte De Visite CDV Photograph Of General Tom Thumb And Wife Lavinia Warren, Circus Performers Of P. T. Barnum Fame
Antique carte-de-visite studio photograph depicting famed little people performers Tom Thumb and his wife Lavinia Warren, celebrated attractions of P.T. Barnum’s exhibitions. The pair are shown standing together in formal period attire, posed within an ornate studio interior featuring painted architectural backdrops and patterned flooring. Lavinia Warren wears an elaborate dress with decorative trim and train, while General Tom Thumb is dressed in a tailored suit with bow tie.
The photograph is mounted on a standard CDV card with rounded corners. Condition issues include light overall fading, surface wear to the image, and edge and corner wear to the mount consistent with age, handling, and storage. No major tears observed. Overall condition is typical for a mid-to-late 19th-century carte-de-visite and presents well for display or collection.