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NOTE: PLEASE SEE DETAILED PHOTOS & READ CONDITION
RARE 1870s IDENTIFIED SIDESHOW PERFORMER CDV – MISS REBECCA MYERS
Up for consideration is an exceptional, museum-quality Carte de Visite (CDV) of the documented 19th-century sideshow performer, Miss Rebecca Myers. This is a significant piece of American "human curiosity" history, featuring remarkable details and rare provenance.
FULLY IDENTIFIED SUBJECT: Unlike anonymous portraits, the reverse features a clear, period-handwritten inscription: "Miss Rebecca Meyers [sic], Age 20 years, Height 32 Inches, Weight 30 Pounds.
VIVID HAND-TINTING: The image features strikingly well-preserved, primitive hand-tinted blue and green highlights. This folk art style of coloring is remarkably vibrant for its 150-year age.
NOTABLE STUDIO: Features the highly collectible "Camera Graphic" backmark of W.E. Bowman of Ottawa, Illinois.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: While Myers is documented in institutional archives (including the Becker Collection at Syracuse University), early-career portraits with specific handwritten statistics are rarely available on the open market.
CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY:
I have provided multiple high-resolution, angled photos to ensure complete transparency. This authentic albumen print shows honest age, including corner wear and a central vertical "flight crease" visible in the cardstock (see macro photos). These structural elements confirm its 19th-century authenticity. The image remains sharp with excellent contrast.
