Autograph letter signed by Millie-Christine, to Mrs Mathews. Bath, England, March 1872. 2 pages. With: Albumen CDV portrait of the young artists seated on a settee. N.p.: Stereoscopic Co. Titled “The Two-Headed Nightingale” and with the imprint printed to the mount recto lower margin. Affixed to letter.

Also with: Two locks of hair affixed to the letter. An exceptional artifact from the performing career of Millie-Christine. The sisters address a Mrs. Mathews: “In compliance to your request I give my Autographs also a lock of my hair from each head with much pleasure.” A second hand dates the encounter and gives some information about the sisters.

The verso features “Verses by Millie-Christine The Two Headed Nightingale” with five 4-line stanzas. Born into slavery on a plantation in southeastern North Carolina, they were sold several times while children and abducted twice by people looking to exploit them. Eventually, they came to be owned by Joseph Smith who toured the sisters through the United States, Canada, and Europe. They were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and continued to tour internationally. The talented singers were successful enough to purchase the property where they were born and build a grand home where they lived until their death. In early October 1912, Millie died after contracting tuberculosis. Christine was unable to be safely separated and died the next day. Though they had separate personalities, they were often referred to by one name, "Millie-Christine" and are themselves quoted as saying, "Although we speak of ourselves in the plural, we feel as but one person."

The best collection of Millie-Christine artifacts we have ever encountered.

[African Americana, African American History, Slavery, Abolition, Enslavement, Emancipation, Reconstruction, Entertainment, Early Photography, CDV,Carte de Visite, Ephemera, Manuscripts, Documents, Letters]