Woman standing and reading
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This little CDV isn’t perfect. The image is a bit askew on the backing, and it’s getting a little frayed around the edges. There’s no identification for either the photographer or the subject. But I like it anyway. I wonder what the book is. It’s not unusual for a woman to signal her refinement by posing with a book, but I think it’s less common for her to appear so absorbed in the book that she seems to be completely ignoring the camera. And while I assume she’s standing to show off the dress, there’s something about her that almost makes me think she might prefer standing anyway.
Pics of Then 
It almost certainly dates to the 1860s. It looks British to me, although in those early days, American studios were often indistinguishable from European ones. The only decorative element is the vase with flowers, which is quite nice. I like the studios of the 1860s, without the fake trees and rocks and fence posts that appear in studios later on.
Yes, I agree with all of that. I bought this from a drawer at an antiques store that seemed to have mostly British ones, though I can’t be sure. I’d be curious to hear what clues you use to distinguish British from American images of that era. And while I enjoy an elaborate studio set, I’ve developed quite a taste for these simpler ones, too.
This looks British to me because her dress is very formal, and because vases were popular props in British and European studios of the time. That said, wealthy American women also dressed formally, and an American photographer might use a vase to add a European touch. I’d give this at least a 60% probability of being British, and maybe a 10% probability of being French or other European.
That all makes sense. Thanks for the insights!