Barnum Collection

CIRCUS POSTER, 1920s. American poster, 1920s, for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus

CIRCUS POSTER. Barnum & Bailey, c. 1912

Barnum & Bailey Poster
Poster for Barnum and Baileys Circus

Edouard Beaupre, the Willowbunch giant (1881 - 1904), giant and circus performer, and part of Barnum and Baileys circus. Named here in the Tatler as Arthur Beaupre, the Montana Giant

CIRCUS POSTER, 1920s. American poster for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus, 1920s

Lillian Leitzel - German Circus acrobat and strongwoman
Lillian (" Lilli" ) Leitzel (1892-1931) - an acrobat and strongwoman for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Date: circa 1910s

CIRCUS TRAIN from Barnum & Baileys Greatest Show on Earth, c. 1905

CIRCUS POSTER, c1950. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus poster, c1950, when the three-ring circus still performed under a tent

Caricature of P T Barnum and Jumbo the elephant
Caricature of Phineas Taylor (PT) Barnum (1810-1891), American showman and businessman, and Jumbo the African elephant which he bought for his circus from London Zoo in 1882

The Barnum & Bailey greatest show on Earth, the worlds largest, grandest, best amusement institution. Date c1899. The Barnum & Bailey greatest show on Earth, the worlds largest, grandest

GARGANTUA CIRCUS POSTER. Gargantua the Great on an American circus poster, 1938

CIRCUS POSTER, 1899. Equestrienne Ada Castello on an American circus poster, c1899

The Barnum and Bailey Show Programme, 1897
Front cover of the Barnum and Bailey Show programme for the 1897 performances at Olympia, London

Advertisement for Barnum and Baileys Circus, 1897
Poster advertising Barnum and Baileys three ring circus, commonly known as The Greatest Show on Earth, 1897

Performance in the Lecture Room, Barnum's American Museum, New York City, 1850s
NWI4759691 Performance in the Lecture Room, Barnum's American Museum, New York City, 1850s.; (add.info.: Performance in the Lecture Room, Barnum's American Museum, New York City)

Huge tent of P.T. Barnum's American Museum and Menagerie, 1850s
NWI4759677 Huge tent of P.T. Barnum's American Museum and Menagerie, 1850s.; (add.info.: Huge tent of P.T. Barnum's American Museum and Menagerie, 1850s.); Photo © North Wind Pictures.

Phineas T. Barnum portrait, 1850s
NWI4950746 Phineas T. Barnum portrait, 1850s.; (add.info.: Phineas T. Barnum portrait, 1850s.); Photo © North Wind Pictures.

President Cleveland as Cardinal Richelieu, 1885
1576744 President Cleveland as Cardinal Richelieu, 1885; (add.info.: Richelieu's defiance' President Cleveland as Cardinal Richelieu embracing a young woman labelled "Civil Service")

Barnum & Bailey poster depicting the destruction of the Spanish Fleet by the United States Navvy, off Cuba 1898
528964 Barnum & Bailey poster depicting the destruction of the Spanish Fleet by the United States Navvy, off Cuba 1898; Universal History Archive/UIG.

General Tom Thumb, 1855
1576007 General Tom Thumb, 1855; (add.info.: General Tom Thumb was the stage name of Charles Sherwood Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15)

Stephan Bibrowski (1890 - 1932), know as Lionel the Lion-faced Man. Lionel traveled to the United States and started appearing with the Barnum and Bailey Circus

c. 1920s - Tom and Alice obese sideshow performers
Early 20th century vintage press photograph - Tom and Alice obese sideshow performers arriving in Los Angeles. Probably Alice Dunbar

c. 1920s - Madame Alice fat lady performer
Picture captioned Madame Alice - possibly Alice Dunbar, nicknamed Alice from Dallas who worked for Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey for nearly 20 years

The Hairy Family of Burma - hypertrichosis lanuginosa
c. 1860s India - the hairy family of Burma - congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa - they became famous as a show attraction and freak show act

The bearded lady: Miss Annie Jones 1897
Annie Jones Elliot (1865 - 1902), a " freak" and part of the " Greatest Show on Earth". The accompanying article describes her as " in every respect the best of the "

The bearded lady: Miss Annie Jones 1898
Annie Jones Elliot (1865 - 1902) also known as " the Bearded Lady" toured with the showman P. T. Barnum as a circus attraction. 1898

Poster, Barnum and Bailey, Greatest Show on Earth

General Tom Thumb, 19th century (1955). General Tom Thumb was the stage name of Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-1883), an American celebrity who stopped growing normally when a child

Barnum's Circus, probably Liverpool, Victorian period

Barnum's Circus in Ramsgate in 1899

Barnum and Bailey's Show and Circus, Nottingham
Barnum and Bailey's Show and Circus passing St Peter's Church, Nottingham, May 1898 Date: 1898

Charles Sherwood Stratton known by everyone as General Tom Thumb (1838 - 1883), American dwarf, who achieved great fame. Wearing court dress, appearing at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly

Souvenir from the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth (colour litho)
731783 Souvenir from the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth (colour litho) by German School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Gen. Tom Thumb and wife, Com. Nutt and Miss Minnie Warren, pub
AQS331963 Gen. Tom Thumb and wife, Com. Nutt and Miss Minnie Warren, pub. by Currier & Ives, 1863 (litho) by American School, (19th century); American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts

Barnum and Baileys Show at Olympia, the Arena as seen from the Gallery (litho)
1039305 Barnum and Baileys Show at Olympia, the Arena as seen from the Gallery (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Barnum and Baileys Show at Olympia)

Mr P T Barnum (colour litho)
613346 Mr P T Barnum (colour litho) by Ward, Leslie Matthew (Spy) (1851-1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mr P T Barnum, Barnum, 16 November 1889)

Some Members of the Barnum and Bailey Menagerie at Olympia (litho)
1598208 Some Members of the Barnum and Bailey Menagerie at Olympia (litho) by Aldin, Cecil Charles Windsor (1870-1935); Private Collection; (add.info)

The bearded lady: Miss Annie Jones
Annie Jones Elliot (1865 - 1902) also known as " the Bearded Lady" toured with the showman P. T. Barnum as a circus attraction

Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) American showman: co-founder of Barnum
531972 Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) American showman: co-founder of Barnum and Bailey circus. Edward Linley Sambourne cartoon from Punch London 1884 in the Fancy Portraits series showing Barnum

Winter quarters of Barnum and Bailey Circus, Bridgeport, USA
Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA, winter quarters of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. circa 1905

P T Barnums Museum, New York City, USA. 1857

General Tom Thumb
Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838 - 1883), known as General Tom Thumb, was a dwarf who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer P.T. Barnum

Messers Barnum and Baileys "Greatest Show on Earth"at Olympia (engraving)
1615072 Messers Barnum and Baileys " Greatest Show on Earth" at Olympia (engraving) by Cleaver, Ralph (fl.1902); Private Collection; (add.info)

Christmas present - Miniature Barnum Great Menagerie 1908
Edwardian children would have loved this gift for Christams, miniature wild animal figures in captive cages, for the nursery. 1908

Barnum and Baileys Show (engraving)
1064096 Barnum and Baileys Show (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Barnum and Baileys Show)

Jumbo the elephant versus Charles Bradlaugh
Punch magazines comment on the unwelcome departure of the elephant Jumbo from England to America with P.T Barnum. Here Mr Punch suggests Barnum take an altogether different beast

Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus, with world famous acrobats (colour litho)
3656547 Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus, with world famous acrobats (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

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Step right up and witness the mesmerizing world of Barnum. From the vibrant circus posters of the 1920s to the captivating performances under the big top, Barnum & Bailey Circus was an American spectacle like no other. In the early 1900s, a magnificent circus train rolled into town, carrying with it a menagerie of wonders. The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus poster from 1920s proudly announced their arrival, promising thrills and excitement for all who dared to enter. One particular poster from c. 1912 showcased the grandeur & Bailey's showmanship. It captured imaginations with its vivid colors and larger-than-life characters that seemed to leap off the page. Amongst these extraordinary performers was Edouard Beaupre, whose towering presence left audiences in awe. His incredible strength defied belief as he effortlessly lifted objects that would leave others gasping for breath. Lillian Leitzel, a German circus acrobat and strongwoman, dazzled spectators with her graceful aerial displays. Her daring stunts high above ground were a testament to both skill and courage. The magic continued in later years when Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus still performed under enchanting tents. A vintage poster from around 1950 captures this era perfectly - showcasing three rings filled with breathtaking acts that left audiences spellbound. P. T. Barnum himself became an iconic figure in popular culture - his caricature alongside Jumbo the elephant immortalized on another whimsical poster. Together they symbolize not only entertainment but also innovation and imagination at its finest. Barnum & Bailey truly lived up to their title as "the greatest show on Earth. " Their shows were legendary spectacles that captivated millions across generations – young and old alike marveled at Gargantua the Great's imposing presence on yet another stunning American circus poster from 1938.