Circa 1900 cabinet photograph and circa 1870 carte de visite of Millie and Christine McCoy, Black conjoined twins enslaved, in Columbus County, North Carolina (1851-1912). Cabinet photograph was taken by Frank Wendt, Boonton, New Jersey, and is autographed on verso "Millie-Christine".
Mille and Christine McCoy were born as enslaved conjoined twins in 1851. They spend their lives forced to perform for crowds in the United States and in Europe. Mille and Christine McCoy were taught to sing, dance, play piano, and speak five languages fluently. The twins were enslaved by Jabez McKay, who then sold them to their new enslaver John C. Pervis. After 1853 Mr. Bower enslaved the twins who then were kidnapped in late 1853. Mille and Christine McCoy made a reappearance in 1854 and were put on display at the P.T. Barnum's American Museum in downtown Manhattan. The twins continued to perform in the United States and in the United Kingdom from 1880 to the first half of 1890. Mille and Christine McCoy eventually retired in Whiteville, North Carolina.
This collection contains two photographs. One is signed by Millie and Christine McCoy. The other is a picture of Millie and Christine McCoy as young children.
November 1, 2018, 1 item; Circa 1900 cabinet photograph of Millie and Christine McCoy, Black conjoined twins enslaved in Columbus County, North Carolina (1851-1912). Photograph was taken by Frank Wendt, Boonton, New Jersey, and is autographed on verso by Millie-Christine. Purchased from Ian Brabner, Rare Americana.
July 23, 2021, 1 item; Carte de visite (ca. 1870) of Millie and Christine McCoy, Black conjoined twins enslaved, printed by Lithographie A. Compan (8 Rue de Strasbourg) in Paris, France. Printed on the verso in red ink is "Christine Millie The 2 Headed Nightingale. Born in Columbus Co. North Carolina in 1851." Purchased from AbeBooks.
Purchased from Ian Brabner, Rare Americana
Purchased from AbeBooks
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.