For years, an unusual daguerreotype of a woman in a military-style uniform, exacting a salute, was innocuously displayed in the Memphis, Tenn., home of longtime antiques collector and dealer John Bryant. Auctioneers Mark and Matthew Kennedy, who head Kennedys Auction Service, based in Selmer, Tenn., were regular visitors to Bryants home for consignment pickups. Bryant often mentioned finds he had acquired over the years but never mentioned the early photograph. The unassuming daguerreotype ended up being the top lot, and possibly set an auction record, at Kennedys Sept. 13 living estate auction of Bryants collection along with several estates. The photograph was by Rufus Anson, who operated a studio on Broadway in New York City from about 1851 to 1867, which was a 20-minute walk from where the Academy of Music was located and the citys then major opera house. The hand-colored photograph, dated 1856, portrayed the French soprano Marie-Charlotte Lemercier (1827-1907) in her role as Nathalie in LEtoile du Nord (The North Star), which made its U.S. premiere on Sept. 24, 1856, at the Academy of Music, staged by The Max Maretzek Italian Opera Company. The diminutive photograph measuring about 2.5 by 3.5 inches had a handful of bidders chasing it up to the $20,000 mark. In the end, it came down to an internet bidder and a phone bidder. The latter, a collector and authority on daguerreotypes, triumphed at $46,000. Online searches for Anson daguerreotype auction results show a range of previous prices up to about $2,800. I think he knew he had something good, but he never talked about it. We lucked out though and figured out who she (Lemercier) was, reported auctioneer Mark Kennedy. It was a good sale overall. We had a good in-house crowd, and interest online could not have been stronger. Over 3,000 registered bidders from over 30 countries participated in the auction, including Kennedys first bidder from Tasmania. All prices reported include a 15 percent buyers premium. Another period image that performed well was a Joseph Henry Sharp (1859-1953) oil-on-canvas painting, Indian Smoke Lodge, which attained $23,000, depicting an early 1900s Native American encampment with a smoke lodge scene. Also attracting interest was an 1840 Tennessee alphabet sampler by Cynthia M. Motheral of Franklin, Tenn., which realized $8,337. A featured work on the Tennessee Sampler Survey website, this example depicts four series of alphabet letters and a poem reading, My heart exults whilst to the attentive eye, The curious needle spreads the enamelld dye, while varying shades the pleasing task beguile, My friends approve me, and my parents smile. Rounding out the auction were several items with notable backstories, such as a ca. 1760 Japanese chest that Humphrey Bogart reportedly once stored his cigarettes in during a publicity tour in Japan. Verita Bouvaire Thompson, who was his companion on that trip, wrote a note about Bogart using the chest in this manner when the chest was sold from her collection in 1993. A sterling silver and mixed metals mug wrought by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca. 1878, sold for $3,335. Extensively decorated with repousse motifs of ferns and copper dragonflies, the mug also had an unusual wood grain texture in the body. It is inscribed with two birth names and dates on the bottom for members of the Crawford family of Memphis, Tenn. Next up for Kennedys will be an auction of the remaining inventory from Antique Archaeologys (American Pickers) now closed Nashville location as well as items from Mike Wolfes personal collection on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 9 a.m., at the AG Event Center at 851 High School Road, Selmer, Tenn. For additional information, visit www.kennedysauction.com or call 731-645-5001.