Poignant and hauntingly intimate, this early sixth plate daguerreotype captures a powerful post-mortem portrait of a young woman laid to rest in bed. Her body is dressed in a crisp white garment with gathered pleating, a bonnet tied beneath her chin, and her hands delicately folded over her midsection. Her head rests on a well-stuffed pillow, and her serene expression is preserved in striking clarity—one eye faintly open in the classic posthumous gaze. The image is masterfully composed, with careful attention to light, detail, and solemn dignity.

The plate is housed in its original leather case with an elegant scrollwork pattern on the cover. The mat, with its wide and early-style corners, shows scattered oxidation (tarnish and spotting), particularly in the lower left and right corners, which further attests to the image's early date—likely late 1840s. There is no visible photographer’s hallmark.

Post-mortem daguerreotypes of this quality and early vintage have become increasingly scarce. This example combines strong subject matter with unflinching photographic candor, offering a rare and emotionally resonant view into 19th-century mourning customs and early American photography.