Monday, February 8, 2016

Could this be Sarah Rowbottom, Aged 100+ ???

In February 1865 The Hertford Mercury published an article about Sarah Rowbottom, nee Edwards, who was claimed to be over 100 years old. The article says:

We have before us a portrait of this centenarian, taken by Mr. Frederick Downer, of Watford, an accomplished photographer ... The eye of the old woman is very bright, the expression of her face shrewd and intelligent, but the wrinkles are wonderful. ...

The carte de visite reproduced here has a back consistent with it having been taken by Fred Downer in the mid 1860s. One copy is currently for sale on ebay and there seems to be more than one copy in existence. I am sure Frederick Downer would have sold multiple copies of his photograph of Sarah Rowbottom from his shop in Watford High Street.

Does anyone out there have any firm evidence that this is the correct photograph?

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