The Ricky Jay Collection Part III

[FREAKS]. Group of 7 Pamphlets About Freaks. Including: “James Mandy The Man With the Iron Skull.” Biographical Sketch by Barry Gray.” [New York: Mercer Printing, n.d.]. 8vo. Portrait of Mandy on p. 1. [4 pp.] Folded sheet. Some wear, tears, soiling. Good. Mandy was a bodybuilder who was famous for being struck on the head with no apparent ill effects. And: “Biographical Sketch of Serpentina The Serpent Lady.” [N.p., n.d.] 8vo. Illustrated with 4 photos of Serpentina. [4 pp.] Folded sheet. 2 horizontal creases, some rubbing, soiling. Good. Serpentina had no bones below her shoulders. And: “Chinese Monster Big Feature Attraction A Whole-Show-in-Itself.” Richmond, Indiana: W. J. Cook, [n.d.] Illustrated with 3 photos of this sideshow attraction. [4 pp.] Folded sheet. This is an advertising leaflet for the “Chinese Monster,” a hand-built dragon-like attraction supposedly dead but partially preserved by the “African Method of Embalment.” Some rubbing, soiling, ink notes on p. [3]. Very good. And: “Life of Miss Millie Lammar the Beautiful Ceylonesse Mind Reader Also an Expose of Second Sight Mysteries.” New York: Dick’s Popular Pub House, [n.d.] 8vo. With an illustration of areas on a hand for palm-reading. Unnumbered. Engraved publisher’s wrappers (worn, soiled, chipped, text toned, torn). A good example of this rare and fragile item. Lammar and Francis Morrissey had a mind reading act. And: “History of the Legless Acrobat. A Phenomenon. [London: E. Arnold, n.d.]. 8vo. Illustrated with an image of Eli Bowen, the legless acrobat on p. [1]. [4 pp.] Folded sheet. Some wear, soiling, toning. Good. And: “‘Krao,’ A Living Specimen of Darwin’s Missing Link.” [London: The Royal Aquarium, n.d.] 8vo. 20 pp. Disbound loose sheets. Portions of original wrappers (heavily worn, chipped, text leaves worn). Fair. A booklet of yet another supposed “missing link.” And: “History of Miss Annie Jones Barnum’s Esau Lady.” New York: Popular Publishing Co., [n.d.] 8vo. Unnumbered. Original pink wrappers (sunned, worn, soiled, text toned worn). Good. An account of the life of Barnum’s famed Bearded Lady.