Trimmed sixth plate portrait tintype backed in period cardstock frame. N.p., ca. 1870s-1880s. Verso bears contemporary pencil inscription: "Alice Byrd Evans" along with faint inventory numbering.

The seated subject, identified as Alice Byrd Evans, is captured in a classic occupational studio pose beside a large wooden studio view camera mounted atop an ornate turned-wood tripod stand. She wears a fitted dark bodice and skirt with a large, neatly pinned neck ribbon and brooch, her hair arranged in an elaborate updo with curls. Resting her hands in her lap, she is positioned directly beside her primary professional apparatus, which features a prominent brass barrel lens, focusing mechanism, and square camera box.

Occupational portraits of photographers from the 19th century are quite rare and highly sought after by photo historians, but occupational images of women photographers are of paramount rarity. During the Victorian era, commercial photography was overwhelmingly dominated by men; female practitioners who owned equipment or operated independent studios were exceptional outliers. Visual documents showcasing what appears to be a female photographer directly paired with her studio camera stand as vital artifacts of women’s early contributions to the medium. More research into the name inscribed on the verso may reveal quite interesting history. 

[Early Photography, Occupational Photography, Female Photographer, Women in Photography, Alice Byrd Evans, Studio Camera, View Camera, Brass Lens, Tripod, Tintype, Ferrotype, Sixth-Plate, 19th Century Photography, Victorian Women, American Photography]

Fair to good condition overall. The plate exhibits typical surface age spotting, though the subject's face, attire, and the prominent studio camera retain strong definition and contrast. The card backing shows edge chipping and paper wear along the margins without compromising the handwritten identification.