[African Americana]: [Georgia]:

Compliments of Rev. Fuller...Known Throughout the World as the Elephant Face Boy [wrapper title and first line of text].

[N.p., likely Georgia. ca. 1940]. [4]pp. on a single folded sheet. Illustrated portrait. Old folds, minor wear and soiling. Former owner's pencil inscription and notations on front and rear covers. Very good. Item #5368

A seemingly unrecorded and intriguing ephemeral item, presumably handed out during a preaching tour of Georgia around 1940 by an extraordinarily obscure African-American minister who billed himself as "Rev. Fuller The Elephant Face Boy." Very little is recorded about Reverend Fuller; the only mention we could locate occurs in the January 8, 1940 edition of The Macon News, mentioning Fuller's recent appearance in Dawson, Georgia, about 120 miles southwest of Macon: "Dawsonites listened to an 'elephant-faced' preacher recently, when they were visited by 'the Rev. Fuller, a colored preacher, born part human and part elephant, and known throughout the world.' Fuller is said to be the only of 13 children in his family born in his condition. He has a formation of an elephant ear that hangs 17 inches, two normal ears and three eyes, but can see out of only one. An elephant trunk formation hangs 24 inches."

The present leaflet echoes some of the language in the news article, touting Reverend Fuller as "The Elephant Face Boy -- Born Part Elephant and Part Human," mentioning that he is one of thirteen children "born in this condition," and describing the same physical features. Additionally, the work states that Fuller was "born 41 years ago in Brazil, South America," and that he was born (presumably with elephantiasis) "due to his mother attending a Circus, during which the elephants went on stampede" after which she became "so frightened that when the child was born he was in this condition." The brochure also states that Fuller "eats from 5 to 6 meals daily and drinks from 7 to 10qts. of water," that his "mind is normal," and he has "traveled throughout the European countries...with some of the leading side shows and circus." The text concludes by mentioning that Fuller has "spent many weeks in Hospitals in different parts of the country, and has been examined by leading Doctors and Specialists. They all pronounced him to be the strangest Curiosity on Earth alive."

Interestingly, unlike the newspaper article quoted above, the text of the present work does not identify Fuller as someone of African descent. The text is illustrated with a full-page drawing of Fuller on the second page, in which about half of his face is obscured. In the illustration, Fuller does appear to be of African descent; whether he was born in Brazil of American parents, or immigrated to the United States at a later time is unknown. In fact, a great deal about Fuller is unknown, and the present work provides a wonderful opportunity to dive deeper into the mystery. The leaflet is also interesting for its treatment of Fuller as a medical oddity. No other copies located in trade, auction history, or institutional records.

Price: $850