Albumen carte-de-visite studio portrait of an unidentified adult man seated in formal dress, posed with a human skull resting across his lap. The theatrical studio setting includes a draped table with papers or a folio and a hanging tassel cord. No photographer’s imprint is visible on the images provided.

The skull prop suggests an anatomical or medical theme, presented as part of the sitter’s chosen studio identity rather than a generic accessory.

Verso bears a presentation-style inscription reading “with remembrance of from” followed by a large signature “Lew Wallace” and the notation “18 yt.” The inscription does not identify the sitter by name.