D03-66. SHY BROTHERS. The unknown daguerreian didn't use any magic elixir to produce the stellar sixth plate showing two young brothers seated next to each other in similar poses. Immediately, even a casual observer is drawn into studying their very honest faces. The lads remained unmoving during the exposure and watched the man with curiosity while he practiced his trade. Both kids are very neatly groomed. They wore matching white collars and bow ties. Their jackets appear tailored to fit each of them, unlike the clothing seen on children in so many other images. There are heavy buff strokes on the plate and an odd line of patina across the top that touches the elder boy's head. The speck on his cheek seems to have been caused by a contaminant in the pigments used to embellish their flesh tones. I'm not certain what the marks above his sibling's head are. They don't appear to be scratches. The surface has remarkable reflected depth. The archivally sealed piece is kept in a pristine thermoplastic case, a variant of #176 in Krainik. This example, which is named "A Spray of Strawberries and Grapes", has square corners and was probably produced earlier than the case represented in the book. An impressive embossed burgundy pad is opposite the subjects. $395