An early quarter plate daguerreotype by M.P. Simons of Philadelphia, a distinguished 19th-century daguerreotypist. The image features a solemn young girl, elegantly posed beside a draped table, exuding a blend of innocence and formality. She is dressed in an ornate, dark wrap with tasseled details layered over a light-colored dress, her neatly parted hair and crossed ankles enhancing the portrait’s composed beauty. The photograph is set within a classic oval brass mat and preserved in a fine hinged leather case lined with vibrant green silk, a hallmark of Simons’ quality craftsmanship.