An album opener

A carte-de-visite portrait of a barefooted boy dressed as a brigand. The large, open carte-de-visite album next to him carries the demand 'Your life or your portrait', a play on the phrase traditionally ascribed to highwaymen.

At the height of 'Cartomania,' the family carte-de-visite was usually prominently in the home; guests perusing the album were frequently enjoined to add their own portraits to those already collected by their hosts.

Photographer unidentified [reverse is blank].