Date please - James Willans

[kwilt4u]

My mother thought this is James Willans born about 1817 in Batley, Yorks.  A confirmation of approximate dates would be appreciated, it looks like he'll be my first dead end as there is no father listed for him.

Thank you so much.

Heather 

[kwilt4u]

OOps so sorry wrong picture size

[mudge]

Hi Heather
Here's a resized B/W cleanup
Mudge

[kwilt4u]

Wow you're fast, thats awesome.  As you can tell even posting the photo severely challenged me!


Thanks so much

Heather

[Niksmum]

One from me

Irene

[chinakay]

Hi Heather...I'll take a stab at the date although men's photos are hard to date, mainly because their clothing styles don't change much. As you may guess, we're not going to get much from the clothing on this one.

But I'm thinking the style of beard is what was known as a Newgate Frill, which was worn low on the chin and without a moustache. It began in the late 1850s and carried into the 70s. The corner of the photo is rounded, so that puts it into the 1870s (rounded so they could be slipped in and out of photo albums).

So it's possible this could be your James, if it's a mid-70s photo he'd be in his mid to late 50s...looks reasonable.

Is there anything on the back of the photo? If there is, could you scan it for us please?

Old Rowley is the one who is really expert on men's fashions, you might pm him if he doesn't look in. PureM is good at it as well.

Cheers,
China

[kwilt4u]

Here  is the back of the photo

Thank you so much for the clean ups.  I'll be saving them and printing them out as the original photo is only 4" x 2.5".  The improved versions are wonderful.

Heather

[chinakay]

A very lovely back of the card, Heather...after comparing it with many examples I'd put it late 1870s or maybe early 80s...the royal crest is a 70s thing, and the slanted name an early 80s thing...so, somewhere around 1880 give or take a couple of years.

That's my best guess, but of course you may get others.

Cheers,
China

[PrueM]

Hi Heather 

As China mentioned, we really need Old Rowley to come and take a look as he's the man-clothing expert on here    However, I will say that the hard-edged oval vignette style of portrait was popular in the late 1870s, so China was on the right track with her estimates 
That would make your man aged 60, which I guess he could be - his hair looks grizzled, and although he doesn't appear particularly wrinkled, that could be due to the fading of the highlights in the photo (very common) and/or some retouching the photographer did before printing the picture   

It's a lovely photo!

Prue