Description:

Barnum Phineas 1810 - 1891

P.T. Barnum ALS from the year that he founded his traveling circus.

Single page ALS on lightly lined paper with P.T. Barnum's letterhead, 5" x 7.75". Inlaid to another sheet to a size of 7" x 10.75'. Neatly penned ALS dated "September 17/70" and signed by P.T. Barnum as "P.T. Barnum". A few faint handling marks with one small stain.

A lovely ALS by P.T. Barnum, written from his home headquarters in Bridgeport, CT and written during the first year that Barnum invented his traveling circus established as "P. T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome," a traveling circus, menagerie and museum of "freaks" It went through various names: "P.T. Barnum's Travelling World's Fair, Great Roman Hippodrome and Greatest Show On Earth," and after an 1881 merger with James Bailey and James L. Hutchinson, "P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show On Earth, And The Great London Circus, Sanger's Royal British Menagerie and The Grand International Allied Shows United," soon shortened to "Barnum & Bailey's." This entertainment phenomenon was the first circus to display 3 rings, which made it the largest circus the world had ever seen. His letter addressed to Alfred noted that he would be "glad to have a "blow out" with you ..." and referenced "when we (illegible) to town next".

Previous to his traveling circus, Barnum garnered success by dabbling in his "attractions of the odd" with a variety troupe called "Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical Theater". The timing could not have been worse as it was followed by the Panic of 1837 and three years of difficult circumstances. He purchased Scudder's American Museum in New York City, in 1841. Barnum improved the attraction, now renamed "Barnum's American Museum," upgrading the building and adding exhibits, and it became a popular showplace. Barnum added a lighthouse lamp which attracted attention up and down Broadway and flags along the roof's edge that attracted attention in daytime. From between the upper windows, giant paintings of animals drew stares from pedestrians. The roof was transformed to a strolling garden with a view of the city, where he launched hot-air balloon rides daily. A changing series of live acts and curiosities, including albinos, giants, midgets, "fat boys," jugglers, magicians, exotic women, detailed models of cities and famous battles, and, eventually, a menagerie of animals were added to the exhibits of stuffed animals.

An intriguing man, chameleon in nature, whose entrepreneurism began as a young husband who early on had several businesses: a general store, a book auctioning trade, real estate speculation, and a statewide lottery network. Known for his belief that a "Sucker is born every minute", P.T. Barnum lived that belief and used it to his advantage as the premise employed in his novelty shows.

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