Family Album Photograph Appraisal

Tintype Photograph of a "Very Distinctive Lady" from the Hake Family Album

This item is a tintype photograph, also known as a ferrotype, featuring a portrait of an elderly woman. The photograph itself is oval-shaped and set within an ornate, embossed paper mat. The mat is a light, possibly off-white or cream color, with an intricate floral or scrollwork design surrounding the central oval opening. The overall aesthetic suggests a mid-to-late 19th-century photographic style. The woman in the portrait is depicted from the waist up, wearing a dark, patterned dress with a high collar and a traditional bonnet or cap that covers her head and frames her face. Her hands are clasped in front of her. The expression on her face is somber and direct. The condition of the tintype appears to be fair, with some visible dust or minor abrasions on the surface, typical for an item of this age. The paper mat shows some signs of handling and slight discoloration consistent with age. The entire piece is currently housed within a clear plastic protective sleeve, which has handwritten labels indicating significant provenance. The top label reads "VERY DISTINCTIVE LADY 3500 (Re)," and the bottom label identifies it as "FROM AN ALBUM OF THE PETER & ABRAM HAKE FAMILY - GETTYSBURG PA." This provenance linking it to a Gettysburg family is a crucial piece of information, potentially indicating connections to historical events or figures. The tintype is a unique primary source historical document and a testament to photographic practices of its era. The craftsmanship of the tintype process and the embossed mat indicates a commercially produced item, possibly a souvenir or family heirloom.