Tomlin Collection

Flea Circus Chariots
Professor Tomlins flea circus: a flea is pushed into position at the start of the chariot race; fine harnessing wires attach the fleas to the chariots Date: 1960s

RMS Titanic - Probate of the Will, Ernest Tomlin, victim
RMS Titanic - third class passenger and victim Ernest Portage Tomlin. Original probate and legal documentation dated 6 July 1912 relating to Mr Tomlin's estate after his death on the Titanic

Portrait of Lytton Strachey, 1973 (bronze)
826797 Portrait of Lytton Strachey, 1973 (bronze) by Tomlin, Stephen (1901-37); 46 high cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Portrait of Lytton Strachey. Stephen Tomlin (1901-1937)

Design for Block Printed Silk, 1926. Artist: Margery Tomlin
Design for Block Printed Silk, 1926. From The Studio Volume 91. [London Offices of the Studio, London, 1926]

RMS Titanic - photo of Ernest Tomlin, victim
RMS Titanic - third class passenger and victim Ernest Portage Tomlin. Original photo with pencil notation on reverse. 2. x 2.5 inches

RMS Titanic - postcard from Ernest Tomlin, victim
RMS Titanic - postcard from third class passenger and victim Ernest Portage Tomlin. His body was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett on 21 April 1912

Tomlins Flea Circus
Professor Tomlin feeding the fleas on blood from his own arm; they perform on the miniature pieces of equipment in the foreground Date: 1960s

Flea Circus Feeding Time
Feeding time at the flea circus: the performers, on Professor Tomlins arm, drink his blood with relish; the wires are the fleas harnesses Date: 1960s

Cricket / Team / Leics
Leicestershire Woodcock, Tomlin, C.C.Stocks, Holland, Warren, Hillyard, Pougher, Detrafford (C), Stone, Chapman, Whiteside

Cricketer, Tomlin
W. Tomlin Cricketer - Leicestershire

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Ernest Tomlin: An Eclectic Life Unraveled - From Flea Circus Impresario to RMS Titanic Victim and Beyond Ernest Tomlin, an enigmatic figure of the early 20th century, leaves us with a puzzling yet intriguing legacy. Known for his flea circus, Tomlin's whimsical world of miniature performers captivated audiences. Yet, his life took a tragic turn when he boarded the ill-fated RMS Titanic in 1912, leaving behind a probate of his will. Among Tomlin's possessions were a portrait of the renowned biographer Lytton Strachey, a bronze sculpture created in 1973, and a design for a block-printed silk from 1926, showcasing his diverse interests. A passionate cricketer, it is remembered for his team in Leicester. As we delve deeper into Tomlin's life, we uncover a man of many facets. From the thrill of flea circuses to the somber reality of the Titanic disaster, Tomlin's story is a testament to the human spirit and its capacity for both joy and sorrow.