Benjamin Disraeli (1804 to 1881) stands full length with arms folded in this carte de visite by William Edward Kilburn of 222 Regent Street, London, circa 1860 to 1864. Kilburn (1818 to 1891) opened his Regent Street studio in 1846, made daguerreotypes of the Royal Family, and won a prize medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The albumen print is on a cream mount with the studio’s royal appointment stamp on the reverse.

Disraeli turns his head to his left, his dark hair curling over the ears. He wears a double breasted frock coat reaching the knee, a bow tie over a high collar, light trousers, and dark shoes. A button tufted velvet armchair with a carved crest stands at left, a top hat resting on its seat.

In these years Disraeli led the Conservative opposition in the House of Commons, having twice served as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He became Prime Minister in 1868 and again from 1874 to 1880, and was created Earl of Beaconsfield in 1876.

Reverse stamped “By Appointment, Mr. Kilburn, 222, Regent Street” beneath paired royal arms, and inscribed twice in pencil, Disraeli.