Dating faded image - is it a carte de visite or older?

[teddy24]

Hi, this is a very old image and I'd like to know if it is an early carte de visite or other thoughts.
It is on plain white card stock, the beige image is one piece there is no insert/frame etc and no details of any photographer. In fact there is no writing on it and if there ever was it was light and did not leave an impression.

Hoping it is not too hard for someone to be able to date from the clothing style? Is it an early carte de visite or other thoughts?

thanks in anticipation,
Denise

[Treetotal]

Hi Denise...I believe this is an 1870s Carte de Visite.

Carol

[jim1]

I agree with Carol. The hard oval vignette was a popular style in the 70's.
However this is a copy of the original as there's been some over-sketching done.

[teddy24]

Thanks Carol and Jim. It was probably the oversketching that confused me. Would anyone like to guesstimate his age? It's faded a lot so must have been kept out of my old album for a long time at one stage...Denise

[jim1]

I would guess 30's.

[teddy24]

Thanks Jim  I guess it's hard to pinpoint time frame more than that given the poor quality I'm trying to narrow him down but being a carte de visite he may not even be a family member! So many great photos and so few I can be certain about who they are = frustration! Oh well, a breakthrough can always happen when you least expect one so I keep on hoping...
Denise

[Treetotal]

30s would be my guess too.
Carol