WP2111 WPG - PORTRAIT - ARTORIA GIBBONS (TATOOS)

POSTCARD

Date: Not evident. Not Posted.

Publisher / Photographer: Lyall Commercial

Notation: This card is a bit of an oddity. I originally thought her name was Artonia and discovered little about the woman in the photo - except that she was mentioned in a classified advertisement in a Billboard Magazine (March 2 and March 20, 1956 editions) by the company of Bernard & Barry Shows from Toronto, Ontario: "WANTED Tatooed Lady, Snake Handler, Acts for 10-in-1 for Canadian tour. Bertie Wade, Artonia [Artoria] Gibbons, Jean Carroll, answer- send photo, state all."

I am confused by the ad as to whether they are seeking Artoria - or if she is already signed on. Jean Carroll, also mentioned by name, was another famed Tatooed lady.

Also confusing is the nature of this photo. It is printed on Lyall Commercial postcard paper, but there appears to be another photo credit in the bottom right corner. Artoria's name seems to have been written over a previous version of it. For the sake of argument, I suspect that Artoria was in Winnipeg and running out of photo cards of herself and hired Lyall to reproduce them - which he may have done simply by photographing and old one and giving her name more prominence.

Further information on Artoria Gibbons can be found at: https://www.tattooarchive.com/history/gibbons_artoria.php