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JEAN ANTOINE JOSEPH BIHIN Signed Carte de Visite of the Famous P.T. Barnum Giant

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:280.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 600.00 USD
JEAN ANTOINE JOSEPH BIHIN Signed Carte de Visite of the Famous P.T. Barnum Giant
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Autographs
Wonderful “Giant” Signed Jean Antoine Joseph Bihin CDV
JEAN ANTOINE JOSEPH BIHIN (1805-1873). Famous P.T. Barnum “Giant” and Entertainer, also known as the French Giant.
A wonderful, Carte de Visite Signed on reverse, “J Bihin” in bold blue pencil, of Jean Antoine Joseph Bihin, 2.5” x 4”, Choice Very Fine. Image shows Bihin in a military style uniform standing with a normal height man. A native of Belgium, he grew to a height of between 6’8” to 8' feet (reports vary). Beyond this advantage, he could act and sing, and was a skilled strong man and comedian. After achieving fame touring fairs and circuses across western Europe, he moved to the U.S. in 1840. He then worked at P.T. Barnum’s museum. Bihin also worked with Colonel Nutt in a 1862 production of the play Hop o’ My Thumb. Backstamp of “Spooner’s / Photograph Parlors / Kidd’s Block. / Cor. Main and Centre Streets / Stockton, Cal. / Additional copies at any time.” Rare.
Jean Antoine Joseph Bihin (1805-1873). A native of Belgium, he grew to a height of between 6’8” to 8' feet (reports vary). Beyond this advantage, he could act and sing, and was a skilled strong man and comedian. After achieving fame touring fairs and circuses across western Europe, he moved to the U.S. in 1840. He worked at P.T. Barnum’s museum, where he once got into a fight with Colonel Goshen. Barnum interceded by demanding they save the altercation until there were time to properly promote it and sell tickets. Bihin also worked with Colonel Nutt in a 1862 production of the play Hop o’ My Thumb. He is also reputed to have done some p.r. work for the Union during the Civil War, and is reported to have been married from 1849-1863.