Description:

Rare mention of Bailey! P.T. Barnum orders 100 photographs of himself for his agent who is leaving for Europe in six days "without seeing my manager Mr Bailey who attends to & decides all details of show. When I see him we will decide whether or not to increase the order..."

Autograph Letter Signed "P.T. Barnum," 2p, 5.75" x 9", front & verso. Bridgeport, Conn., [Thursday] September 12, 1889. To photographer George Gardner Rockwood. Accompanied by a carte-de-visite photograph of Barnum by Sarony, 2.25" x 3" oval portrait on 2.25" x 3.25" photographic paper, mounted on 2.5" x 4" card with "P.T. Barnum." printed at lower edge. Blank verso. No photographic imprint. Each in fine condition.

George G. Rockwood (1832-1911) began taking photographs in St. Louis in 1853 and opened a studio in New York City in 1857. He produced the first carte-de-visite photograph made in the United States in 1858. At his death, his records showed that he photographed over 350,000 persons in 58 years, including Presidents Van Buren and Hayes.

In part, "I telegraphed you today to print 100 of my photos soon as possible. The reason of haste is one of our agents sails for Dresden next wednesday [Sept. 18] early & if he could call on you & get this hundred on tuesday P.M. next he would take them to English editiors ... If you could print my u>autograph with them all the better ... Meanwhile if you have one of my Cabinets on hand please mail it early friday (tomorrow 13th) addressed to my agent _ Mr Geo O Starr c/o Low's Exchange _ 44 Charing Cross, London England- I order this 100 on my own back without seeing my manager Mr Bailey who attends to & decides all details of show. When I see him we will decide whether or not to increase the order. The Bowery man (Einsman) makes them I believe for about $60 per 1000 _ but yours are far superior _ though Bailey may think the others will answer the purpose.

"I saw the other day a photo-graveur of your picture of me made by some firm in Brooklyn. I wrote to ask them for what price they would make me 5,000 or more of a reduced size _ (about 31/2 by 41/2 inches) for frontispiece of my cheap autobiographies. I an get no answer from them & have lost their address. Perhaps you can put me in the way of getting thousands of these photo-graveurs from your picture _ at a nominal price _ about the cost of the wood cut which is now used for my portrait in back..."

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January 28, 2016 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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