Woman with a book at a writing desk
Click here to view it larger.
I’m increasingly drawn to photos like this, simple full-body cartes de visite images without a lot of adornment. As seems to be the style, the furnishings (the desk, the drape) are off to one side, like a suggestion of setting, and there is ample blank space above the subject’s head. (Sorry for the smudge above her head – this photo obviously not in perfect condition.) Her dress and the desk are evenly lit, and yet the wall in the back goes from light down to shadow. Is that a trick of the lighting, or the way the wall is painted? I can’t tell. But the overall effect of the setting and lighting is to frame her face very nicely. By the way, at the bottom right, just below the image is embossed “EDGE. PHOTO.”. [UPDATE: though my lazy searching didn’t find anything, a comment below reveals this to be from the studio of Thomas Edge, who had studios in England and Wales.] Also, that’s a rather impressive belt buckle!
Pics of Then 
Your cdv was made by Thomas Edge, who maintained a studio in Preston, Lancashire. He also spent summers in the seaside resort town of Llandudno, Wales. There’s a short bio online (https://amounderness.co.uk/thomas_edge,_photographer,_preston_and_llandudno,_1850s.html). I’d be curious to know if anyone has documented his long career more extensively.
Awesome! Thank you! I did briefly search, but didn’t find that. Clearly I should have looked harder. I’ll update the post.