MILLIE CHRISTINE Carte de visite with signature of “chrissie

Sale 2377 - Lot 467

Unsold

Estimate: $ 600 - $ 800

MILLIE-CHRISTINE. Carte-de-visite, with signature of 'chrissie—millie' on the reverse. Philadelphia: Gorman's Temple of Art, late 1860's-1870's

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Conjoined twins, Millie and Christine were born into slavery in 1852. Considered to be of no worth, they were sold off as children along with their family. But salesman Joseph Pearson Smith was the first to see the show business potential, and purchased the twins and their family. His wife took on the job of training and educating the twins, not only the '3 R's' but singing and dancing as well. The twins it turned out were talented and soon were proficient on piano and guitar. Billed as 'The two-headed Nightingale,' the twins were not only well cared for but were well-received, performing with P.T. Barnum, and even entertaining Queen Victoria.