A pair of ninth plate daguerreotypes preserving bust-length portraits of a man and woman, made by John D. Heywood at 228 Washington Street, Boston, circa 1856 to 1857. Both images are housed in a single double-sided thermoplastic case with an elaborate molded scrollwork and floral design on the exterior, joined by a brass hinge mechanism. The portraits share identical gold-toned oval mats with beaded inner borders and richly textured gilt surrounds, each mat stamped with the photographer's imprint.

The woman wears a light-colored floral print dress with a white collar and center-parted dark hair swept close to the head. The man is dressed in a dark coat and waistcoat with a white shirt and loosely knotted cravat, his dark wavy hair combed back from a broad forehead, and his expression direct and composed.

John D. Heywood operated at 228 Washington Street, Boston, during 1856 and 1857, having previously run a daguerreian gallery in Crescent City, California under the name Heywood and Co. By 1857 he also maintained a second gallery at 103 Court Street, which he advertised as the main address of his "Mammoth Daguerreian Rooms," with the Washington Street location serving as a branch.

The photographer's imprint stamped into both mats reads "HEYWOOD" at lower left and "228 WASHIN ST" at lower right.

Property of a Palmer, Massachusetts gentleman.