Antique Cabinet Card Photograph - A Group of Male and Female Graduates

Dating to the 1890s or so, here's a large cabinet card, sepia tones, of a group of graduates or men and ladies at a cotillion, or perhaps, the debutantes of the day. When I first saw this photograph, I almost thought the group was for "special needs" individuals, the first girl that struck my eye was the lady far left, bottom. She appears to be mentally disabled but, on looking through a magnifying glass, she just appears to have a lazy left eye. The lady to the far right, bottom, looks to be unusually short as is the young lady at the center. Anyway, you be the judge.

While all the ladies dresses are of cotton eyelit or silk (bottom center I believe), the lack of jewelry and ornamentation is quite obvious. The only lady wearing anything of note is the lady at the bottom center - she holds an ostritch fan, wears diamond (or paste) earrings, a necklace (heart on a chain) and a brooch at the top of her dress; there is also the slightest hint of a bracelet on her wrist. The only other ladies wearing jewelry are the ladies at the top left and top right - both wear necklaces.

CONDITION: Just perfect with deep, dark color and just a touch of dust.

HALLMARKS: On the reverse of the card, Ritchie Bros, Photograph Parlors, Centralia, Ills.

SIZE: The card measures 9-3/4" x 8". Image size is about 8-3/4" x 7".