Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 306
image_0 image_1 image_2
Three Cartes-de-Visite Picture Oddities from 1870s—A Giant and Two Little People Couples
Three Cartes-de-Visite Picture Oddities from 1870s—A Giant and Two Little People Couples
image_0 image_1 image_2
Description:

19th C. Circus
New York, NY; Omaha, NE, ca. 1870s
Three Cartes-de-Visite Picture Oddities from 1870s—A Giant and Two Little People Couples
CDV
CIRCUS, Set of Three Signed Cartes-de-visite, ca. 1870s. Goshen: Omaha, NE: Eaton, Photographer; Strattons: New York: E. & H. T. Anthony "From Photographic Negative by Brady"; Nutt and Warren: New York: E. & H. T. Anthony "From Photographic Negative by Brady." Each approximately 2.5" x 4". Col. R. Goshen signed authentically; others signed in printed facsimiles.

The first of these three cartes-de-visite pictures Col. Routh Goshen, also known as the Arabian Giant or the Palestine Giant, was reputedly 7 ft. 10 in. tall and weighed more than 400 pounds; Goshen signed the CDV on the verso. The second has an image of "Mr. & Mrs. General Tom Thumb in their wedding costume," with facsimile signatures of Charles S. Stratton and Lavinia Warren Stratton on the verso. The third includes an image of "Commodore Nutt and Miss Minnie Warren, in the identical costumes worn before Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, at Windsor Castle, June 24, 1865."

Routh Goshen / Arthur James Caley (1824-1889) was born on the Isle of Man, one of twelve children born to Arthur Caley and Anne Kewley. He began to grow very tall in his teens and continued growing in height into his 20s. He began exhibiting himself in Great Britain and France after news articles were published about his height in Liverpool in 1851. He eventually moved to the United States and adopted the name Colonel Routh Goshen. By November 1863, he was appearing at Barnum's American Museum, where he was described as being 27 years old and born in Jerusalem. In 1870, a semi-fictitious biography of his life was published, and a later fictional biography declared that it was of Hebrew and Turkish descent, had been in the Turkish army at Jerusalem, had fought in the Crimean War, and other military conflicts in Italy and Mexico. In 1876, he toured the United States, appearing with Commodore Nutt, and toured again with Barnum in 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1883. He married at least three times and divorced twice. He died at his farm in Middlebush, New Jersey, and left his considerable estate to his adopted daughter.

General Tom Thumb / Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-1883) was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. With a birth weight of 9 pounds 8 ounces, Stratton grew normally for the first six months of his life then suddenly stopped growing. In the early 1850s, P. T. Barnum learned of Stratton and taught him how to sing, dance, and impersonate famous people. He made his first tour in 1843, and Barnum gave him the stage name of General Tom Thumb, after an English fairy tale. Barnum took him on a three-year tour of Europe, where he appeared before Queen Victoria and crowds wherever he went. After his return from a second tour of Europe, Stratton began to change public perceptions of "freak shows." Over the next several years, these types of performances became one of the most favored forms of theatrical entertainment. By the age of 21, Stratton was 2 feet 10 inches tall. In 1863, he married fellow little person and Barnum performer Lavinia Warren. After the wedding, President Abraham Lincoln received the couple at the White House, and the Strattons toured Europe and British India together. Under Barnum's management, Stratton became a wealthy man, and he later rescued Barnum from financial difficulty and became his business partner. Stratton made his final appearance in England in 1878. In July 1883, Stratton died unexpectedly of a stroke.

Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump Stratton (1841-1919) was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts, with a normal birthweight, and like her younger sister Minnie stopped growing early. She had a successful career as a schoolteacher, beginning at age 16, but then worked as a miniature dancer on a Mississippi showboat. She enjoyed performing and under the management of P.T. Barnum, she adopted the stage name of Lavinia Warren. In 1863, she married fellow little person and Barnum entertainer Charles Stratton, with her sister Minnie Warren as her bridesmaid. Under Barnum's management, they became famous throughout the United States and Europe. In 1872, they toured Europe and British India. Although they had no children, they pretended to for public consumption. After her husband Charles died suddenly of a stroke in 1883, she wanted to retire to private life but was persuaded to continue her career. Two years later, she married the Italian little person Count Primo Magri (1849-1920), and they operated a roadside stand in Middleborough and traveled the world performing. She died in November 1919 and is buried beside her first husband.

Commodore Nutt / George Washington Morrison Nutt (1848-1881) was born in New Hampshire to a wealthy farmer and his wife. He may have begun his entertainment career as early as 1854 in a Manchester circus. By 1861, he was touring New England with a circus, when P. T. Barnum hired him to appear at his American Museum in New York City. Barnum gave him a wardrobe that included naval uniforms and gave him the stage name Commodore Nutt. Although he was in love with fellow little person Lavinia Warren, she married General Tom Thumb. Between 1869 and 1872, Nutt turned the world with the Thumbs and Minnie Warren, Lavinia's sister. After a disagreement with Barnum, Nutt left and toured with a comic opera company. He then established a variety show on the West Coast and operated saloons in Oregon and California. In 1879, he married Lilian Elston of Redwood City, California. He later returned to New York City, where he died of Bright's disease in May 1881.

Minnie Warren / Huldah Pierce Warren Bump (1849-1878) was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Although both she and her sister Lavinia were born at a normal birth weight, they stopped growing early in their lives. She and her sister were little people and entertainers associated with P. T. Barnum. Her sister married General Tom Thumb. Minnie also performed as a singer. In July 1877, she married fellow little person Edmund Newell (1857-1915), who also worked for P. T. Barnum. In July 1878, she died from complications in childbirth. The baby died a few hours later.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: 2.5" x 4"
  • Medium: CDV

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

March 12, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000