Photographic portrait of a lady, with a significant studio advertisement on the back. Melbourne, circa 1868.

Albumen print photograph with hand colouring, carte de visite format, 102 x 66 mm (mount); verso with the studio’s highly decorative back mark, worded: ‘Burman’s Views of the Public Buildings, Street, Gardens &c of Melbourne and the Principal Towns of Victoria. 6d each copy. Photographed by W. Burman, Exhibition Portrait Rooms, 94 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne. Invalids attended at their residence. Cemetery Monuments and other Views taken to order, a large Assortment of Abum Portraits and Views always on hand.‘; the print and mount are both in good condition.

An early studio portrait by William Burman. The beautiful back mark, which we have not sighted before, is certainly a most interesting piece of Melbourne photographic and social history.

Note: Burman named his Exhibition Portrait Rooms after the Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia, staged in Melbourne in 1866-67.