Description:

Millie/Christine McKoy Cdv, Black Conjoined "Carolina Twins"

A W.L. Germon's Temple of Art carte de visite depicting African-American conjoined twins Millie and Christine McKoy (sometimes spelled McCoy) (1851-1912), ca. 1870. Bearing an elaborate back stamp reading "W. L. Germon's / Temple of Art, / 914 Arch Street, / Philadelphia." verso. Also pencil inscribed "Millie Christine" along the right edge verso. A collector's code notations appear at top and bottom verso. The sepia-colored photograph on cream stock shows expected weathering including toning and darkened edges. Else very good and quite unusual. 2.5" x 4."

Millie and Christine McKoy were born to enslaved parents in Whiteville, North Carolina in 1851. The pair were conjoined by a ligament near the lower spine and weighed 17 lbs at birth. They were first sold at 10 months old, and until their reunion with their emancipated parents in the 1860s, the pair traveled with freak shows throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. The sisters were extremely talented vocally, could speak multiple languages, dance, and play the piano. Later in their career, they traveled with American showman P.T. Barnum.

Washington Lafayette Germon (ca. 1823-1877) was an early Philadelphia-based daguerreotypist and photographer who specialized in portraits. He operated his photo studio from the 914 Arch Street, Philadelphia location between 1867-1871. Germon photographed average people, but he also had a flair for the sensational. Take for instance Germon's "Temple of Art" carte de visite portrait of Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (1849-1908), a black blind piano prodigy. This sort of carte de visite has a novelty appeal very similar to that of the McKoy sisters.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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August 25, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

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