Beschreibung:

Lot of 3 cabinet cards of African American George Bell Frank Wendt: Boonton, New Jersey, n.d., ca 1895. Bell who is of well above average height, and likely a sideshow performer, is shown in comparison to a person of typical height in three different poses, with two demonstrating his considerable reach. One card shows Bell wearing a long coat and top hat holding his arm out from his body over the head of his companion, with the caption “Geo Bell / Age 22 Hight [sic] 8 feet 2 Weight 350 size of Shoe 23 / Wendt, Photo Artist, Boonton, N.J.” A handwritten inscription to the card with Bell’s full reach reads, “George Bell / age 23 / Height 8 ft 2 ins. / Weight 375 lbs. / Reach 9 ft 2 ½ in. / size of shoe 22.” Frank Wendt was a photographer well known for his photographs of circus and sideshow performers, especially of "human oddities." Images of George Bell are quite rare, and aside from the vital statistics noted on these images, not much is known about his life. Condition: Photo with Bell's arms at his side heavily toned with loss to lower left and what appears to be sewing marks. Minor toning to image with Bell's full reach. Image with caption very good.