Woman, photographed by Johnstone, O’Shannessy & Co. [carte de visite, late 19th century]

[Editor: This carte de visite, featuring a photograph of a woman, is undated; however, it is believed to have been made in the late 19th century. It was made by Johnstone, O’Shannessy & Co. (Melbourne, Vic.).]

[Front of carte de visite]

Johnstone, O’Shannessy & Co.

Next Post Office       Melbourne

[Description: A photograph of a woman.]

[Reverse of carte de visite]

By appointment
to
H. R. H. the Duke of Edinburgh, K.G.
and to
His Excellency the Governor

Johnstone, O’Shannessy & Co.
Artist Photographers,
3, Bourke St. East, Next the Post Office
Melbourne

Source:
Original document

Editor’s notes:
Dimensions (approximate): 64 mm. (width), 105 mm. (height).

This carte de visite was printed on a thin cardboard mount, with square corners.

Co. = an abbreviation of “Company”

Duke of Edinburgh = (in the context of the late 19th century) Prince Alfred (1844-1900), Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; he was given the title of Duke of Edinburgh in 1866; he was born in Windsor Castle (Berkshire, England) in 1844, and died in Coburg (Germany) in 1900
See: 1) “Duke of Edinburgh”, Wikipedia
2) “Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha”, Wikipedia

H. R. H. = (abbreviation) (also rendered as “HRH”) “His Royal Highness” or “Her Royal Highness” a style used to address, or refer to, some senior members of the British royal family, usually princes and princesses (the style is also used with royal families in some other countries, such as the Netherlands)
See: 1) “History of Royal Titles: HRH and Prince/Princess”, Royal Central, 18 May 2019
2) “Royal Highness”, Wikipedia

K.G. = (abbreviation) Knight of the Order of the Garter; a male member of the Order of the Garter is entitled to add the initials “KG” after his name (a female member is known as a Lady of the Garter, with entitlement to use the initials “LG” after her name)
See: 1) “The Order of the Garter”, The Royal Household (UK)
2) “The Order of the Garter”, Windsor Castle
3) “The Most Noble Order of the Garter: English knighthood”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
4) “Order of the Garter”, Wikipedia