THE MAT . . . Was not commonly seen in the daguerreian era and twice previously when I saw the rare style it was used in the other direction! Casey?s sixth plate that he has archivally conserved has brown spots and a couple scratches on the woman?s dress. There are teeny mold mites and some other dark dots. The intensity of her stare into the lens and her rather severe hairstyle suggested to me that she was a formidable lady when she was taken about 1850. Oxidation is strongest along the bottom. The leather case is apart.
