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938

P. T. Barnum

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
P. T. Barnum

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Auction Date:2011 Apr 13 @ 19:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
ALS, one-page, lightly-lined, 6 x 9.5, Paul Smith’s Adirondack Mountains letterhead, August 27, 1889. Just as they set out to become “the greatest show on Earth,” P.T. Barnum, one half of the immensely popular circus show, wrote this to his partner, James Bailey. In part: “The London papers don't seem so ready to notice us as Provincial papers-probably fearing to give us too much free advertising. But that meeting of the Metropolitan Railway in London gets us noticed by London Times-Telegraph and all the leading London papers. And they evidently generally think we shall draw crowds-which I do not doubt. When do you expect to sail and at what date do you think it best for me to go? I hope you have bargained with Courier Company for prices of my books of 2 qualities if you want them - though I don't think we can sell many there - especially of high price binding and paper. As I wrote you yesterday, I shall leave here for home next week…and arrive there 5th if no accident prevents.” The reverse bears an unsigned pencil docket by Bailey (so identified in another hand) which reads, in full: “Notify Barnum when sail/Show sails Oct. 18/2 kind Barnum’s Life [the book]/Can’t show Phila. too late/bills boxed for London/agents gone.” Light water stain to bottom edge resulting in the rather cramped signature lighter than text, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by an unsigned original double-sided illustrated period broadside advertising an appearance by Barnum’s show in Philadelphia (tears, restorations, and loss to bottom portion), as well as a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA.

Businessmen once had to devise unique ways to promote their wares—and few were better at the task than P. T. Barnum and James Bailey. When Barnum and Bailey's Circus showed up, they would announce their arrival in town with a parade—guaranteed to attract huge crowds. This letter and its amazing content looks at the stupendous show and concerns over marketing it, not to mention hawking Barnum’s book with its “high price binding and paper.” When the circus came to London's Olympia in 1889—with its 450 performers, 300 horses, and several dozens elephants, cages, and parade and baggage wagons—they learned that the American way of doing business didn’t impress British authorities. Not only was the London media hesitant to cover their arrival, “probably fearing to give us too much free advertising,” authorities also declined a request to allow the circus to march its streets. Clear evidence of how a showman and businessman joined forces to create “the greatest show on Earth.”
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