Could anyone date this photo or give me any clues?

[Mapes]

Hi Group

Could anyone give me a guess when this photo was taken, or give me any clues for me to find out who this is?  I found the photo in my grandmothers photo box.  Its kinda a cardboard like material and on the back it has what looks to be a stamp with a date, but unfortunately it is very faded.  I would guess it says "Jul 192?" maybe "Jul 1926" but to me the picture looks much older. 

Please let me know your thoughts,

Steve Mapes

[PrueM]

My guess is that it's a re-print (or rather a re-photograph) of a much earlier picture, looks like 1870s to me

[chinakay]

Not much to date but the hairstyle and the sleeves are late 1870s.

Perhaps if we could see the whole thing uncropped showing the outer corners there might be another clue.

Cheers,
China

[blamcca]

I could be very wrong but I think the stamp appears to say "Jul 187-" but that could just be me.

[PrueM]

I think it definitely is 1926 or 1928. 

[Mapes]

Thanks everyone for there comments so far

As for a better photo unfortunately I do not have access to this photo at this time.  I do remember it being on a hard cardboard like material... you can see the texture on the backside.

Steve

[chinakay]

We know about the cardboard, Mapes, they were all like that because the photo paper in use back then was very thin and had to be applied to backing. But the backing can sometimes supply more dating clues than the photo itself so we asked to see it.

In this case, though, I don't think there's all that much point....it has to be a modern reprint of an 1870s photo

Cheers,
China

[jim1]

Agree,definitely a re-print of an 1870's original.

jim

[Mapes]

Thanks everyone its greatly appreciated.    

Now its time to hunt down who they are

Steve