Could someone date this please

[Jillie42]

That's very interesting Jim. I wish I had the original but what I've been sent seems to be a copy of a copy. Interesting to see what 1924 was about the last date it could probably have been and also helps me to be more certain of the indentity of the female in the picture.

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I appreciate it a great deal
 

[Jillie42]

I have to say I'm really confused now

I've been told that the picture is more likely to be a carte de visite (sp?) from the early 1900's. This would mean the photo is much too early to be the person I believe her to be and the clothes and hairstyle seem rather late for those years

Jill

[chinakay]

The CDV had gone the way of the dodo by the mid 1870s and been replaced by the much larger cabinet card. This woman's neckline and hairstyle are way too late for the early 1900s. Could it be that this isn't the person you thought it was? That happens all the time on the board

[jim1]

She looks to be in her early 20's & if as you say she was born in 1898 would make this around 1918-20 which is within the timeframe you've been given.I can't see the reason for any confusion.
As China says the CdeV had long gone by this time.

jim

[PrueM]

Far be it from me to argue with China and Jim ... 

...but the CdV format was still around until 1900 at least - the cabinet card was introduced in the 1870s but did not supplant the CdV by any means.  I have hundreds of CdVs that show otherwise 

I even have some continental (mainly French and Dutch) CdVs from the 1910s.

I have to say that I have never seen any as late as WW1/1920s but that's not to say it's impossible, however the postcard and other formats had definitely all but taken over by that time.

Cheers
Prue

[Seoras]

Hi Prue,this one I am told is after 1912 according to the uniform.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,572983.0.html

[Jillie42]

This why I'm confused. Another knowledgeable enthusiast informed me this was definitely a carte de visite and that they had all but disappeared by the 1900s and yet the young woman's clothing seems to be of a later date. If it is from a later date then yes, she is quite possibly my maternal grandmother. If it's from an earlier period then it must be another member of the Harrington family. There are no other pictures of my grandmother as she died in 1939 when my mum was only 13. The family were very hard up and photography wasn't top of anyone's list of priorities.

I know absolutely nothing about old photography so I'm having to go by other people's expertise

[Jillie42]

I should also mention that as far as I know there was nothing on the back of the original. However, I also don't know how many times my copy had been copied before it was sent to me. Mine may be a copy of the original or a copy of a copy

[jim1]

OK.Lets clear this up.This woman's dress & hairstyle is late WW1 to around 1920.It can't be any earlier than this as women didn't dress this way prior to these dates.
I don't see how your "enthusiast" can tell whether this is a CdeV or cabinet card without seeing the original as the differnce is in the size & thickness.It's more likely to be a cabinet card as these were the norm at this time.
There were a number of old photographic techniques still around but they weren't considered mainstream by portrait photographers.
You have to go on her dress style.

jim