October 2013 Auction Ends Tuesday, October 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/29/2013
P.T. Barnum autograph letter signed. Undated letter was penned sometime after the mid-1840's following Barnum's debut of his little person attraction ''General Tom Thumb'', played by actual dwarf and child entertainer Charles Stratton. Letter reads in full, ''The story to illustrate is that Albert Smith and myself went to the Warwick races - that we concluded to take a stroll through the 'penny shows', the traveling VANS of which lined one side of the course for the distance of a quarter of a mile. On applying to enter one van which had a large pictorial sign of Giantesses, White Negro, Albino girls, learned pig, big snakes etc. and the keeper exclaimed that I was the man who brought Tom Thumb from America and was making too much money by my 'show' and that of course I would not think paying less than sixpence for going into his van. Upon coming out I was surrounded by a whole bevy of showmen, who began to argue upon the merits and demerits of Genl Tom Thumb - one claiming that I had bamboozled the Queen - for his Wax Works were better worth seeing than Tom Thumb was - another claiming the Queen would never have seen him if had been for his being a FOREIGNER etc etc. After listening to them for half an hour I made a move to depart when one of the showmen throwing himself in front of me exclaimed, 'Come Mister, don't be shabby, can you think of going without standing treat all round?' 'Why should I stand treat?' I asked. 'Cause it ain't every day you can meet such a bloody lot of jolly brother showmen!' replied Mr. Wax Works. Of course I shelled out. / P.T. Barnum''. Single-page letter measures approximately 8'' x 9.5''. Matted with custom vintage Tom Thumb illustrations and framed together with photos of Barnum and Stratton to a grand overall size of 42.5'' x 33''. Toning and creasing, else near fine.
P.T. Barnum Autograph Letter Signed With Excellent Content -- ''...a bevy of showmen...began to argue upon the merits and demerits of Genl Tom Thumb - one claiming that I had bamboozled the Queen...''
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