IS IT POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE 1842 PHOTOS?

[jim1]

Her picture taken 1850's & possibly into the early 1860's.It's possible this was originally an ambrotype & this is a paper copy taken from it later.I think I can detect a wedding ring on her right hand which would be correct for an ambrotype as they were printed on glass & came out in reverse.If this was an 1860's print I would expect to see a full length image.
His picture 1860's-70's,this was pretty much standard wear for this period.

jim

[RobynD]

Thank you all so much for your most interesting and informative responses.  I had no idea so much could be determined about people and their ages and clothes from photos.  Thank you also for the  improvement to the photo of Ann.

However, I think I am going to add some confusion with some BMD info..

Robert has several birthdates (or mistranscriptions).  FreeBMD has his death in December 1869, aged 53 - therefore born abt. 1816 and age 26 on marriage;  in  1871 census he gives his age as 40 - therefore born abt 1831 - obviously incorrect as he and Ann were married in June 1842, both  "öf full age" on the copy of the marriage certificate which I have.
Ann's death on FreeBMD is recorded in  June 1858, following the birth of her 7th child. Birth is 1822 - so 20 at marriage.
In her photo she is holding a flower posy - so is  this perhaps her wedding photo ?

So, were the photos taken at different times?  Ann's obviously before 1858, even though her clothes suggest otherwise and is the photo is a copy of am ambrotype??

Robert's photo could be any time - he certainly looks older than  the 26 he would have been on his marriage, so sometime in the 1860s  before his death in 1869??

I have copies of letters written by their daughter Charlotte  (my g.grandmother) to her then fiance who had immigrated to New Zealand where she joined him in 1876. They later came to Sydney where they and their children all settled.
In her letters she tells him she will join him as "she is all alone with only her brothers and sisters",  thus confirming the deaths of her parents.
I should have provided this BMD information in my earliest post, but I had no idea the photos would produce such interesting and informative  replies.
Any further comments would be very much appreciated. Your information is extremely interesting .
Could someone have a go at "restoring" Robert please ?  The ones of Ann are great
With many thanks
RobynD

[RobynD]

Jim
I forgot to add to my email of a few minutes ago, that the photos are on cardboard   backing with photos themselves on shiny surface and are 6 x 4,  with rounded corners - much like a modern print, so presumably a photo of the very old photo ? 
Your analysis seems pretty much on the mark as to years photos taken.

Thank you and all the others who replied again for your interest and interesting replies.  This is fun and I'm  learning so much about photography and the interpretation of old photos.

RobynD
Lismore, NSW

[jim1]

Based on what you've said would confirm her picture is a copy of an ambrotype.
I don't believe the posy has any particular significance except to show her wedding ring which was pretty much the norm for Victorian women.This is how she would have looked at the sitting which makes more sense.

jim

[RobynD]

Thanks Jim for your reply and reasoning about her posy and the era of the times and types of photography.

It's obvious from all your comments and reasons that the photos were certainly later than 1842 - for Ann late 1850s: and for Robert - 1860 plus.?

Thank you  also again to Niksmum, Saddles, PrueM for your interests and insights and restoration of Ann's photo.  All much appreciated.

Is there anyone out there prepared to have a go at improving Robert? He certainly needs it!

RobynD

[chinakay]

Just found this thread and it seems it's pretty much all been said already

So all I have to add is that the print's rounded corners, which didn't appear until the mid 1870s to make it easier to slide the photo in and out of slots on album pages, would be very much at odds with the style of the lady's clothing. And a lady would never be photographed in anything but the latest fashion. So it's definitely a copy of an earlier photo. As Jim mentioned, a photo from the 1860s would be full length. This has been cropped as well as copied.

Just one further thought, that commercially viable photography wasn't even invented until 1839....if this were actually a photo from 1842 it should be in a museum

This may be a birthday or anniversary photo.

Very nice restores.

Cheers,
China

[RobynD]

Chinakay
Many thanks for your response and analysis too.  It's great that several people have taken the time to look at my photos and reply with most interesting information about photography and dates, etc.
Yes, the photos must have been taken for special occasions, as Robert and Ann would not have had the means for expensive studio portraits unless it was a very special event  such as sending it to their relatives who had come to Australia, perhaps?
At least I now know the photos were much later than the 1842 date written on the back of the photos by a now deceased relative. It's  amazing the photos have survived at all;  must have been passed downseveral generations.
Thanks again for your response.
RobynD

[maidmarianoops]

a bit of help
sylvia

more help needed

[RobynD]

Syvia
Thanks for your attempt at improving Robert and Ann.  Robert especially needs a lot of help;  afraid his photo has badly deteriorated.

RobynD