Dating would be appreciated

[vivwill]

I hope the photo is attached this time :)This photograph is of one of two Scottish ancestors  -  father and son and both had the same christian names so we are unsure which one this photograph is of.

The first lived between 1815 & 1863 and the second lived between 1843 and 1891.   

I am hoping there is sufficient detail in the clothing to enable dating.

He appears to be standing in front of a monument of a uniformed male.

Thankyou

[PrueM]

Hi vivwill

From the dates you have given, it would have to be the younger man, as the photo is definitely not from the 1860s or before.

Having said that, in order to date it more precisely we need to see it in more detail?  Are you able to scan it again?  Some hints about what we like to see when attempting to give a date are given in this topic:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,517366.0.html

Cheers
Prue

[chinakay]

Yes...we would especially like to see the entire thing including the outer corners of the card backing.

Cheers,
China

[vivwill]

Yes Prue, I did read that page about helpful details but unfortunately I have not been able to get any more information or detail  -   I have only been given a copy of the original.  I will keep chasing up more information and update this post.   Many thanks to you and 'chinakay'.

Vivwill

[PrueM]

No worries vivwill

[vivwill]

Hi Prue
I now have a little more detail about this photo -

the photo is in sepia
there is no photographers name on it
the photo measures 27mm x 46 mm and is attached to a 33mm x 59mm card which is about 1mm thick.    The reverse of the card appears as a natural to very light brown colour and the front is the same, tending toward faded off-white.   Edges of the card are gold.  The corners of the card are rounded.

The family member who has the original photo suggests that the subject could be standing in front of a portrait in a big frame and also suggests that the "interesting belt, clasp and buttons" on that person in the background may be identifiable.

I hope this goes some way toward helping more closely date the photo
Regards,
Viv

[PrueM]

Hi Viv

Thanks for following up with this info.

It helps a little bit in that we now know that the photo is in carte-de-visite format (popular throughout the 1860s - 1890s) but without info about a photographer etc. we're pretty much stuck at the same point as before. Unfortunately there is little detail visible in the portrait in the background.  If your only two candidates are the two men you mentioned in your first post, then the photo has to be the  younger of the two and the photo taken some time in the 1880s. 

It's quite an unusual pose and the absence of photographer's details on the card makes me wonder whether it is an amateur photographer's work?  I have a few examples in a little album I bought years ago at an English antique fair.  Seems you could buy plain cards on which you could then stick your home-printed photos...just a thought.

Cheers
Prue

[vivwill]

Thankyou Prue.   Sorry the info wasn't much help.
   
I am told that on the reverse of the photo and in grandmothers handwriting,  are the words "My Grandfather" which is why the family member who has the original was so sure that the photo is of the earlier family member who died in 1863 aged 48.   
Obviously not so.

Thankyou again for your information.
Regards,   Viv