Vintage London Zoo--Year Unknown

Pidcock’s Zoological Exhibition London copper Conder halfpenny token dated 1796. J. Pidcock was the proprietor of the Exeter 'Change Menagerie and importer of foreign animals. The business later passed to Gilbert Pidcock, and the tickets issued by both men were trade tickets advertising the menagerie and passed for small change in circulation. The two-headed heifer was a live exhibit and an advertisement referring to it appeared in the 29th January 1791 edition of the London Chronicle:

"Now exhibiting at the Lyceum Strand. The surprising Heifer with two heads. This very remarkable creature has two Heads, Four Horns, Four Ears, Four Nostrils, through each of which it breathes, &c. This truly wonderful Curiosity is the only one of the kind in Europe; and what is more astonishing, it takes its Sustenance with both mouths at the same time, to the admiration of the Faculty, and the Beholders in general; and it also the received opinion of John Hunter, Esq., Professor of Anatomy, that it has two hearts. One of the Heads, together with the Horns, represents that of a bull, and the other a Cow. The height of the animal is thirteen hands, and each Horn measures twenty-five inches long. Admittance One Shilling.

Exeter Exchange - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This postcard was sold at the London Zoo. The description of Sea lions was supposedly written by "Pidcock." I wonder if that was one of the Pidcock's from the Exter Change/Exchange? My, my how the world has changed. Pidcock extols the sea lions virtue as a "seal skin jacket" as well as "intelligent enough to be able to perform many circus tricks," should you decide to keep it instead of clubbing it. I'll wager a couple of quid that both Bridgett Bardot and Bob Barker would have gagged if they had read that. Years later, Pepsi want's to leave any reference to God out of the Pledge of Allegiance so as not to "offend" anyone.