picking the collective brains of this community.....

got this old photo recently in a local antiques shop in this Japanese city, I`m sure the owner didn`t even know he had it, I think people just bring him stuff, sometimes boxes which is where this was, and he gives them money and never looks inside. anyways...I have some theories about the age of this photo but wonder if members could offer their opinions on it.....much appreciated

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Looks like a print on photo paper... you sure it's an actual photo and not a print?

It looks like an emulsion plate picture...Im thinking somewhere between 1850-1900, if it is an authentic vintage image of course.

I`m pretty sure it`s a print, if this guy was famous they probably made them to sell. I was back in the shop today and found another box of old photos and post cards.....late 1800`s early 1900`s judging by the way they`re mounted and comparing them to my father in law`s family photos from that time period. But....I also found a glass negative and seeing as I`m no expert, I had to turn to the web for info and from what I`ve read on line, it appears to be a silver gelatin dry plate which, if the info is correct, were used commercially between the 1880`s and 1920`s or so, it`s a negative of a young man in uniform and when I looked with my loupe, I saw it`s a high school uniform not military. But the image of the monk is old, even as a print, it`s been around for a long time.

Dry plates came after emulsion plates. If thats a print then the original could be by emulsion plates or if older from a daguerreotype.