Young men posing with small books
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These two little carte de visite images are from different countries (England and France), and show differences in the settings, the clothes, the positioning of the feet, and even the distance of the subject from the camera. But the poses are similar enough (right arm leaning, left arm holding a book) that the pictures still manage to feel similar to me. The boy on the left was photographed by F. T. Day in Saffron Walden, England. The photo on the right was by Desgardin of Saint Brieuc, France. There were two photographers named Desgardin in Saint Brieuc, a father and son, both named Auguste. But the dates of the father (1842-1918) and son (1873-1938) suggest that this photo was taken by the father. For those interested, here are the backs [click to enlarge]:
Pics of Then 
I’m trying to figure out what that piece of furniture in the English photo might be. A writing desk? Maybe a parlor piano that doubles as a desk when the top is closed? That would be a versatile prop in a photo studio.
I was wondering the same thing, since it looks like both. I was guessing it was a desk, in keeping with the studious image they seem to be trying to convey for this guy. And I was guessing that’s an inkstand sitting on it, though I could be wrong.