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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: mgeneas on Sunday 17 December 17 02:53 GMT (UK)

Title: Dating this Kirby photograph of John and Frances
Post by: mgeneas on Sunday 17 December 17 02:53 GMT (UK)
This couple married in 1867, would this have been taken around then?
Title: Re: Dating this Kirby photograph of John and Frances
Post by: McGroger on Monday 18 December 17 03:50 GMT (UK)
To date my estimates have been wrong about half the time, so be warned :D.

Here’s my stab at it:

Right in the thick of the period you’re looking at, I would say.
She doesn't seem to be displaying a ring so perhaps it was taken a little before their wedding. Her hair looks to be pulled tightly back but her ears are partly showing, so more middle than early 1860s. And the geometric shapes on her sleeve were common to “military style” dresses apparently inspired by the American Civil War and popular until the end of the decade.

It looks like she is holding a photo case which surely would have had some significance to the occasion of the photo shoot. What a pity we can’t see who was in it. Wild guess: maybe a deceased parent?

Peter
Title: Re: Dating this Kirby photograph of John and Frances
Post by: mgeneas on Monday 18 December 17 19:43 GMT (UK)
Thanks Peter, hopefully you are right on with dating. It makes sense for the photo to have been taken about the time of the marriage.

Marilyn
Title: Re: Dating this Kirby photograph of John and Frances
Post by: jim1 on Monday 18 December 17 21:14 GMT (UK)
Absolutely 1860's.
Title: Re: Dating this Kirby photograph of John and Frances
Post by: mgeneas on Monday 18 December 17 21:16 GMT (UK)
Thank you Jim

They were not posh folk, John was an assistant gamekeeper at the time, so a photograph would be a big occasion.