Lot No. 1041
1867: RARE EARLY CDV (carte de visite) PHOTO of ”CHANG THE CHINESE GIANT” made in 1867 for the Paris international exhibition by Photography Mulnier (Paris). The card has a small flaw at top and is otherwise in good condition. Zhan Shichai (1841 - 5 November 1893) was a Chinese giant who toured the world as ”Chang the Chinese Giant” in the 19th century, the stage name is ”Chang Woo Gow”. Zhan was born in Fuzhou, Fujian Province in the 1840s. His height was claimed to be over 8 feet (2.44 m), but there are no authoritative records. He left China in 1865 to travel to London where he appeared on stage, later travelling around Europe, and to the US and Australia as ”Chang the Chinese Giant”. Zhan married Catherine Santley, a Liverpudlian whom he met in Sydney, Australia. He died in Bournemouth in 1893, 50 years old.
