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Very rare and original, 1911 Photomechanical Advertising Cabinet Card of the Ringling Brothers Circus / Sideshow / Pinhead (microcephalic) Performers \"Gondio (real name Gondia Roa) and Apexia (real name Lukshoni Bai)\" . This rare and wonderful, Cabinet Card size Photomechanical Image measures 4 1/4\" by 6\" and is printed on a very heavy weight, stiff card stock. The Image pictures an older male and a younger female \"Pinheads\" (more properly termed microcephalics) dressed in somewhat exotic, Southeast Asian style costumes. Text below the Image reads “Brother / Gondio and Apexia / Sister\" and \"Famous Sweeka-Sere (Pin Head) People of Lower Burmah, B. E. India / Ringling Brothers Circus”.
Gondio Roa looks to have had a sideshow career first as a member of a group called \"Les Himalayas\". He then came over to the U.S. with fellow countryman Perumal Sami, the double-bodied boy, in 1910, \'11 and \'12. In 1911 he appeared alongside Lukshoni Bai as \"Gondio and Apexia\" brother and sister Pinheads with Ringling Brothers Circus.
Gondio and \"Apexia\" apparently returned to India and traveled to the United States in 1915 as members of the \"Himalayan Family\". The \"Himalayan Family\" landed at the New York port of Ellis Island with the intention of exhibiting at the Panama Pacific International Expo in San Francisco. In charge of an East Indian named Bielie (or Billie) the group consisted of an older bearded dwarf named Ingoo (Iagoo), and four microcephalics: Gormdaa, age 57, the Dad and his three kids, Gondia (Gondio Roa), age 20; Lakine (Lukshoni Bai), age 9 and Rangya, age 5. The group was held up and detained until further investigation determined that after their initial limited engagement years ago, they were warned not to return. Billie argued that \"science would be greatly benefited\" if the family was examined and allowed to stay but the port authorities would have none of it. They were promptly deported back to Europe.
This wonderful and very rare, Circus / Sideshow Performer Photomechanical Cabinet Card is in very good condition. Both the Image and the entire Card are clean and crisp with a couple of small smudges to the background and a bump at the upper and lower right hand corners but with no significant edge wear, damage or repairs of any kind.
A very rare and fascinating, 1911 Photomechanical Advertising Cabinet Card of the Ringling Brothers Circus / Sideshow / Pinhead (microcephalic) Performers \"Gondio and Apexia\" and a fantastic addition to any collection!!!
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