Victorian Ambrotype of Well Dressed Cavalier Gentleman w Detailed Hand Coloring/ selling Unique Bearded Man with Jewelry, Book and Hat

This is a wonderful example of a hand colored Ambrotype selling featuring a portrait of a well dressed cavalier gentleman with a beard. He is holding a book and showing off a ring and and watch chain, these are emphasized with added color. All this I believe is meant to illustrate his education and wealth. He looks like quite a character and a person of some note I would think. The book is especially interesting, perhaps he was a writer?

Ambrotypes or amphitype, also known as a collodion positive in the UK, is a positive photograph on glass made by a variant of the wet plate collodion process. Like a print on paper, it is viewed by reflected light. Only in fashion for a short 10 year period starting in the early 1850s, they were replaced by less expensive tintypes. Hand coloring added to the glass plate and was an additional expense.

It is good condition overall, there are spots under the glass and other normal signs of age and wear. Please Note: There is no case cover for this photograph, the one partially shown in 2nd photo is for another case.

Just over 3 3/4 x 3 1/4

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