Sixth plate daguerreotype studio portrait of a young man seated and facing the camera, his right arm bent and resting at his side. He wears a dark jacket over a waistcoat with a high white shirt and cravat, and his hair is brushed back with a slight wave, consistent with mid-19th-century fashion. The image is presented in an oval brass mat within a period hinged case lined in red velvet. The daguerreotype remains sealed in its original assembly.

The photograph is by J. P. Ball, an African American daguerreotypist active in the mid-19th century. Ball is recognized for his studio practice and for operating within a small but historically significant group of African American photographers working during the daguerreian era. The formal pose and restrained studio setting align with established portrait conventions of the period.

The daguerreotype is housed in its original case with intact seals, gilt brass mat, and red velvet pad. The reverse shows the original backing material, undisturbed. No handwritten identifications are visible.