Plus, copyright on photos only came in in the 1960s or thereabouts, I believe.
As Sillgen says, the copyright is only on the claimant's version / presentation of the photo.
For example, if you have downloaded an old photo from the late 19th century, say, and then photoshopped all the creases and spots out of it, what you have is different to the 'original' and is thus your copyright.
But fancy spoiling a photo by writing Copyrite / Copyright across it !!!
Dawn M