[R. M. Ballantyne, author of boys' books.] Large mezzotint photograph of Ballantyne in his library by Fradelle & Young of London, with facsimile of his signature on mount.

The black and white photograph is 24 x 19 cm, and is laid down on a 36.5 x 28 cm mount. The photograph is in good condition, on lightly-aged matte paper; the mount is brittle, chipped and discoloured, with closed tears and a detached corner reattached on reverse with archival tape. Facsimile signature in bottom right-hand corner of mount: 'Yours sincerely | R. M. Ballantyne'. On reverse, in contemporary hand: 'R. M. B. about 1893' (although the photograph does not look as if it dates from the year before Ballantyne's death), and at head of reverse, in the same hand: 'R. M. Ballantyne | Author of Boys Books etc | died 1894'. A scarce item, not present in the National Portrait Gallery collection.