D06-71. BABIES! Although I know the daguerreian was instructed to take his patron's sixth plate portrait and show the open dag in her hands with some clarity, if possible, he actually composed his resealed image and lowered the camera's height to accentuate that mirrored plate she was holding. Using a loupe tells me that a woman, possibly, the subject, was cuddling two tykes that most likely were twins. I don't have a clue (unless the kids tragically departed from her world) why the lady might have been taken holding that particular sixth plate. She certainly doesn't appear to be old enough to have had a daughter who gave birth to those babes. Her placement on an invisible piece of furniture, with one arm dangling at her side is unusual. Also, her eyes are focused at a rather odd angle away from the camera's lens. Her elaborate dress and accouterments don't suggest a period of mourning either. There is impressive reflected depth, strong contrast and good tinting. The mold spiders, specks and flecks are not bothersome. She is framed by a slight ribbon of tarnish. A nice leather case with a bouquet of flowers as the central theme is in two pieces. $325