Studio group portrait of Eng and Chang Bunker and their families. N.p., n.d. SIGNED BY THE BROTHERS to mount verso in ink.

A rare signed view of the famous conjoined twins Eng and Chang Bunker (1811-1874) with their wives - sisters Adelaide and Sarah "Sallie" Yates - and two of their sons. Chang and Eng Bunker were conjoined twins born in 1811 in the Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand). A Scottish merchant in 1824 led to a lifetime of touring the world, giving rise to the epithet "Siamese Twins". They became naturalized citizens in the 1830s, settled in North Carolina, and as wealthy community members became acquainted with the sisters Adelaide and Sarah Yates. Despite some outcry from their community and the general public, they held a joint marriage ceremony on 13 April 1843. By 1845 had purchased a 650 acre plantation in Surry County, North Carolina, and were successful farmers and slaveowners. Together, the twins had over 20 children, Chang and Adelaide had 10 babies, while Eng and Sallie had 11. Their first children were born within six days of each other: Sarah giving birth to Katherine Marcellus on 10 February 1844, and Adelaide to Josephine Virginia on 16 February. Supporters of the Confederacy, one of Chang's sons, Christopher Wren Bunker, enlisted with the 37th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry on 1 April 1863, specifically recruited from General John McCausland's offensive on Chambersburg. Christopher was captured as a prisoner of war and held at Camp Chase until the end of the war.

This view of Chang and Eng with their wives and sons is quite scarce and this carte is enhanced greatly with the inclusion of the signatures of both Chang and Eng boldly to the mount.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Early Photography, Historic Photography, CDV, CDVs, Cartes de Visite, Carte de Visite, Carte-de-Visite, Albumen, Cabinet Cards, Siamese Twins, Conjoined Twins]