An Elephant and the Menagerie

Baldwin's upcoming auction, The Deane Collection Part III has a story to tell. The famous numismatic dealers and auction house, now celebrating its 151st year has had a long term connection with the strand, having been established in Duncannon Street in 1901.

The strand was known for the famous attraction of the Gilbert Pidcock’s, Zoo/Menagerie, which was situated about where the Strand Palace is today. Initially Pidcock created a travelling menagerie which eventually settled on the Strand in 1789.  It became one of the places to go, a fashionable venue for polite society, even visited by members of the Royal Family.

In 1793 they acquired ‘The most Stupendous male Elephant  - a Soloman of the beasts’. This was paraded around the city by its keeper at night and for a shilling would drink a pint of ale ! it was the star of the menagerie and featured on the token halfpennies and farthings Pidcock issued to advertise his zoo that could be used anywhere in London.

Pidcock also bought another elephant, named Chunee , for 900 guineas in 1810 which also became a great favourite with the public- but on the 1^st. of March in 1826 he went berserk  and was eventually shot in the Strand by  the army.