BLACKENED EYE? Don?t we have to inquire of the lad, how could you appear to have been so innocent in your retaped sixth plate portrait and have that area of discoloration underneath your orb. Certainly there was a plausible answer when he was taken after 1850 that has been lost through the years. He was seated with one arm wrapped over the top of a small wooden chair. I haven?t been able to ascertain the motif on his silver tiepin that was used to keep the folds of cloth together. The image has mold spiders and many teeny specks that mostly disappear when the separated cover of the leather case is removed. There are a couple places where dried water stains are visible. The piece does have great depth and fine tonality.