This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2017
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.