help with Identification Hodges or Allen

[Trees]

This is a photograh of the mother or mother in law of  My Gt Grandfather Edward Marshall born 1850 in Worcestershire it could be Eliza ALLEN from Oxfordshire or Eleanor HODGES from Worcestershire.

Help my cousin and I have both got a copy of this photograph. I had mine from one of our Aunts and he from her sister, The problem is that we were both  told it was our great great grandmother so far so good but he was told it was the mother of our Gt Grand Father but I was told it was his mother in law.
To help us sort out this mystery please can anyone answer the following  questions?
1 What  date is the photo?
2Could it be a mourning photo?
3 Is the book being the wrong way round is that significant?
4 How old is the subject?
5 what social class is she?

[Treetotal]

I would suggest late 1850s or early 1860s. The book denotes literacy and the most likely that she has finished it. I would put her at around late 30s early 40s. There is nothing to suggest a mourning photo.
Carol

[Trees]

Many thanks has anyone else anything to add  that may help to separate them?
One was born 1827 the other 1828   one was able to sign her name on marriage the other made her mark.
Why would a photograph be taken of a lady in her 30's at that time?

[Trishanne]

As Carol has said, the book is a sign she is literate, so I would imagine this is the one that was able to sign her name.
Pat

[Trees]

I am still worried about the book. .Please look at it again for me, am I wrong in thinking it looks like the front cover is on top not as if the book had been finished but has been passed to her to hold and is upside down
Desperate to get this correct

[jim1]

There is no more significance in the book other than what's been said.
Difficult to put her into a social class but I would suggest she is a working class
woman.
Middle class ladies tended to be dressed better than this when they had their piccies taken.
I would say this is more likely to be early-mid 60's rather than late 50's as the dress style
is wrong for that time.
As for the occasion it could be pretty much any thing.
Often photos were taken & sent to family or friends with an accompanying letter.
No Facebook back then.

[Trees]

Ah now have you solved it Jim? Eleanor remained in Worcester all her life but Eliza moved from Oxfordshire to Worcestershire between1853 and 1856 was this to be a keepsake for the family she was leaving behind? I wonder why who ever she is did not include her children in the photograph though both had children through the 50s  Eliza has two in 1852 before she moved, and Eleanor had two about the same time(in 1850 and 1852) Two of Eliza's brothers emigrated to the USA between 1856 -1860 so may be it was for them to take with them?

[jim1]

Who's to say there wasn't another taken of the children on their own.

[Trees]

Good point Jim How expensive would a photograph have been then?