Now that’s I hairstyle I could hang with…

Website Nineteenth Century Images of Albinism has, as one would expect, a collection of photographs of albinos from the 1870s-1809s. Albinos were sought out by showmen such as P. T. Barnum for traveling sideshows. Photos of the “performers” were available for collecting and trading—sort of a convoluted set of circus baseball cards.

My fave is undoubtedly the fantastically hirsute Rudolph Lucasie and family, who were “obtained” (yeck) by Barnum during a visit to Amsterdam in 1857.

Thanks to kickin’ photography blog  I Heart Photograph for the link.

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About the author

Ethan Covey
Ethan Covey is an audio explorer of great repute, whose insightful music writing scored him the coveted role of Senior Music Correspondent at The Contrarian. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, where he makes hipsters and little girls cry.

1 Comment for Photos of 19th Century Albinism

William Bolen

I have seen a report that the Lucasie was Dutch and not African (Madagascar). Any information on this?

Is the image of the family in the Public Domain?

Thanks.