51 x 64 mm. (Oval image). A carte de visite half length profile portrait of Professor Roderick Noble (1829-1875) seated at a desk reading a letter. Educated at Edinburgh University, Noble arrived in Cape Town in 1850 and took employment as a teacher of mathematics. In 1855 he was appointed lecturer in chemistry at the South African College and was given the chair of English in 1859. A prolific journalist on many subjects, he also edited The Cape Monthly Magazine from 1870 until his death in 1875, when it was taken over by his brother John. The backmark reads: 'Under the patronage of H.M. The Queen. H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh R.N. H.E. The Governor and Co. The Capetown Photographic Gallery , S.B. Barnard, Adderley Street, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope. The negative is kept. Further copies can be ordered by this number'. The handwritten number '8079' is inserted here.