According to Patrice Louinet this photo was taken sometime between 1923 and 1925. That would make Howard between 17 and 19 years old. It was during this period, in November 1924, that REH received a letter from Farnsworth Wright that Weird Tales was accepting his story “Spear and Fang,” which was eventually published in July 1925. The image depicts Robert E. Howard (right) and his two neighbors, Leroy Butler and Leroy’s sister, Faustine, dressed as pirates.