February 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, February 23rd, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
P.T. Barnum autograph letter signed with funny content on being accosted by ''a bevy of showmen'' when he went to a carnival in England. Undated 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 travelling 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 &c the keeper exclaimed that I was the man who brought Tom Thumb from America, and was making to [sic] much money by my 'show' and that of course I would not think of 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 that the Queen would never have seen him if it had not been for his being a foreigner &c &c. 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 '[?] Mister, don't be shabby; can you think of going without standing treat all round?' / ' Why should I stand treat?' I asked. [Standing treat is to bear the expense of treating someone to something.] / 'Cause it ain't every day you can meet such a bloody lot of jolly brother showmen!' replied Wax-Works. / Of course I shelled out. / P.T. Barnum''. Letter measures 7'' x 8.5'', framed with copies of photos of Barnum and Tom Thumb. Entire presentation with frame measures 42.5'' x 33''. Not examined out of frame, but letter appears near fine, with folds.
P.T. Barnum Funny Autograph Letter Signed on Carnival Showmen Who ''...began to argue upon the merits and demerits of Genl Tom Thumb - one claiming that I had bamboozled the Queen...''
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