What's this bicycle or frame in this picture?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BicyclePlymouth.jpg

The caption:

Bicycle in Victorian Plymouth England, with a predecessor of the Starley diamond-frame

Answer 1

I may be wrong but I can't help thinking the picture caption is incorrect.  Starley's first diamond frame was the Rover Safety in 1885 and was the first successful bike with chain drive and raked forks to improve steering.  

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/resul...

The predessor to this, design wise, would be the Lawson Bicyclette of 1879.  

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/resul...

Although the bike in the picture shares a lot of design features with the Rover, I think it is actually a later design.

Judging from the style of dress in the photo I would say it is actually taken during the Edwardian period about 20 years later.

Answer 2

What a smashing contraption.