Please date and restore/colour - posted on behalf of luckyjo

[Luckyjo]

What a great suprise, I think you are all spoiling me. Edwin Looks a treat cleaned up...and in colour. Can't believe how you can bring him to life like that. Wonderful thanks very much.  Thanks for all the clues too. Silly me thought it was carpet. He was a master engraver so have no idea about the book. I do have his partner but doubt if it's the same setting it's such a bad photo I don't think anything can be done with her, its probably not worth bothering with.
Big thankyou to you all. Joy

[old rowley]

I would agree with Prue & China on the date period for this image. With the point to the footwear/ low deep V to the waist coat (which can also indicate that this image was taken durung the summer month's) / the hair being swept forward at the side of the head with a slight upward flick-curl at the end, would all indicate to me this period as well.  Is there anything on the card at all to say who the photographer was? as this may narrow the time frame even more.

old rowley

[Luckyjo]

G'day Old Rowley, thanks for the extra information.1860's is a great help, that puts him in Fleet St Birmingham, so perhaps he had business in the jewelery quarter. Thanks for the pointers, teaching me to be more observant in the future in regards to dress and hairstyles. I would never have thought to look at his hair curls!
The actual photo is more like layered cardboard which has worn away at the back, so there's no markings unfortunately.
Thanks again for your help Joy

[Luckyjo]

This photo was given to me in this state but I was so thrilled to get it and didn't care. It doesn't matter if it can't be restored but it would be good to know how old it is. It is believed to be Kezia Ames the wife Of Edwin previously dated c1860's. This one does look a lot older though. Would like to know your thoughts. Joy

[PrueM]

Hi Joy 

This photo is much later, probably from around 1905-1910 going by the lady's hairstyle and lovely blouse/dress.

Cheers
Prue

[dobfarm]

Your gentalman looks older than 37 if born 1823 by 1860. The dress suit is younger- may be 1870-80 at the earlest. No doubt some photo expert will know more by the photos appearance.But 1860 photo's were not that good.

[PrueM]

Hi dobfarm,

Um...are you implying that no photo 'experts' have given their opinions yet?! 

1860 photographs could be very good - this one's an average example.  The man would be in his early-mid 40s at the estimated date of 1865-1870.  There is very little chance it's from later than 1870, as the framing, setting and posing as well as the fashions had all changed by then.

[Luckyjo]

Just found Edwins death December 1891  aged 68 yipee so thats a great help. So maybe the 1870s is about right. Thanks guys. Joy

[chinakay]

1860 photo's were not that good.

I think you're being generous to give it an "average", Prue... I thought it was atrocious by 1860s standards...

Luckyjo, the flooring may truly be carpet, but there was much use of linoleum which was patented in 1860 and all the rage for a while. It's a typical pattern for the times, whatever is on the floor. Sometimes we see lino that's cracked, curling up at the edges, cut and mismatched as a floor covering in an old photo particularly from the 1860s...it always amuses me to see the subject of the photo dressed in Sunday best for the grand occasion of having a photograph taken, with this ratty stuff on the floor. I'm not being critical, I find it charming

Cheers,
China