Circus Poster, "Sells Brothers Enormous United Shows," 1893
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Artifact Overview
In the late nineteenth century, printers developed a lithograph method that produced brightly colored posters. In advance of a circus coming to town, general agents glued these eye-catching generic posters to building walls, fences, and in window displays. To announce when and where the performances would happen, local printers sometimes provided letterpress paper date strips to paste onto the posters' lower margin.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Poster
Date Made
1893
Creators
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Printed by Strobridge & Co. Lith., Cincinnati, Ohio.
Collection Title
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
35.784.57
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Strobridge Lithographing Co.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Lithography
Color
Multicolored
Dimensions
Height : 40.25 in
Width: 30.25 in
Inscriptions
Circus poster printed on top: THE BIG SHOW OF THE WORLD
Printed in decorated circle: EXACT INTERIOR / SCENE OF THE 3 RING CIRCUS / AND / ROMAN HIPPODROME / EVERY ACT & EVERY FEATURE/ SHOWN IN THIS PICTURE / ACTUALLY PRESENTED / AT EVERY / PERFORMANCE.
Printed at bottom: SELLS / BROTHERS/ENORMOUS UNITED SHOWS.
Inscribed at lower left: Copyright by / THE / STROBRDIGE / LITH. CO. / Cin'ti New York.
Printed at upper right of image: S-12
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Related Content
SetPosters from the Golden Age of the Circus
- 19 Artifacts
Between 1870 and 1930, the circus was one of the most popular forms of American popular entertainment. Showmen like Phineas Taylor "P.T." Barnum, James Bailey and the Ringling brothers traveled across the United States and the world. They brought death-defying stunts, exotic animals, and fun to audiences everywhere. This collection of circus posters highlights the many facets of the Golden Age of the circus.