A charming pair of ambrotypes captures two young sisters, Mary E. Howe and Lydia A. Howe, daughters of Robert Howe from Sonoma, California. The images, one sixth plate and one quarter plate, are beautifully tinted, adding a delicate touch of color to the girls' cheeks and their matching plaid dresses.

The quarter plate image features both sisters standing together, exuding the innocence and closeness of siblinghood, with Mary seated and Lydia standing by her side. The sixth plate image, presumably of one of the sisters as a baby, offers a tender glimpse into their early childhood. The attention to detail in the tinting and the ornate gold matting of the images enhances their appeal and reflects the care with which these portraits were created and preserved.