#425. MIRACULOUS IN GRAY! I have wondered since I acquired this most magnificent quarter plate daguerreotype if the subject, who was a member of the Quaker sect, was identifiable. The stout woman sat for her brilliant portrait in the studio of remarkable daguerreian. The man had absolutely perfect control of his illumination, causing the shadowing of her bonnet to mask only her forehead and a brief part of her face. Have you ever seen such large intense dark eyes? I am curious about her lean to the right and the placement of her hands. It looks like she might have drawn away her arm at the beginning of the exposure, and then froze when the maker said something. There is also a metallic sliver visible at the back edge of her bonnet, which is probably his head clamp. Rarely have I ever owned a plate that had such an awesome range of mid-tones. The clarity and astounding depth are impressive. There are mat abrasions on the right side of the resealed piece and a slight bend in the plate against the inside of the mat on the left. The remainder of the surface is pristine! The woman is kept in a nice leather case that is apart. A ribbed green pad nicely embossed with flowers and leaves are opposite the subject. The paper seal was cut from a printed broadside. $1,150