Circus Poster, Barnum & Bailey, A Child Dreaming of a Circus, 1896
Add to SetSummary
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.
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
Poster
Date Made
1896
Creators
Place of Creation
United States, Ohio, Cincinnati
Creator Notes
Printed by Strobridge & Co. Lith., Cincinnati, Ohio.
Collection Title
On Exhibit
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
35.784.103
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
Printed at top: THE / BARNUM & BAILEY / GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Printed on a banner at the bottom of the image: THIS SMILING FACE IS MULTIPLIED A MILLION TIMES A YEAR / WHERE, AS THE CHILDREN'S MIGHTIEST FRIEND THESE WONDROUS SHOWS APPEAR/ WITH SUNNY GLEAMS OF FAIRYLAND. WITH SCENES OF MERRIEST GLEE, / WITH CUTE AND CUNNING ANIMALS FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE SEA. Printed at bottom of poster: THE WORLD'S LARGEST, GRANDEST, BEST / AMUSEMENT INSTITUTION.
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