I'm wondering if this rose is near-thornless - is it a sport of the original Alberic Barbier, or of the later prickly substitute?

The Rose: A Complete Handbook - Page 337 (1965 )
Roy Genders 
BABY ALBERIC (Chaplin). 1932. A hybrid polyantha raised from the R. wichuraiana rambler, Alberic Barbier, the ivory blooms being of similar colouring and borne with freedom.

Have had this for 9 or 10 months.

Compact form, but prone to defoliation.
Nice when it's nice.
Boring waste of space the rest of the time.

On probation (Sword of Damocles version).
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Updated again - September 10th: This little beastie is looking fantastic at the moment. It's probably just trying to lull me into a false sense of security.

It definitely likes spring in this climate. The interesting part will be seeing if it can handle summer this year.

Nice little everblooming bush. Leaves in the Wichurana fashion, dark green and shiny, almost identical to those of 'Albéric Barbier'.
I'm pretty convinced this lovely Rose is not a sport of the well known rambler, bloom shape and color is quite different. 'Baby Albéric' has buff and white blooms in spring, becoming almost pure, transparent white in summer and autumn. Very free flowering, and easy to propagate from cuttings. It deserves more attention!