Robin Hyde (1906–1939) is one of New Zealand's major writers. Her first book of poetry, The Desolate Star, was published in 1929. Her novels include Passport to Hell (1936), Check To Your King (1936), Wednesday's Children (1937), Nor the Years Condemn (1938), and The Godwits Fly (1938).
The Spencer Digby studio typically took several shots in one portrait sitting. These were usually on separate sheets of film, but a more economical approach would be to maketwoon one sheet, as in this case.