$976
Autographed letter signed ("PT Barnum"), to his manager, Williams Cameron Coup, 1 page front and back folded, on personal letterhead, Bridgeport, October 8, 1870. In 1870, Barnum created his "Grand Travelling Menagerie, Caravan, and Circus" with William Cameron Coup. In the present letter, written from his home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Barnum exhibits great excitement for the debut of the Circus in the Spring of 1871 and alludes to one of the greatest hoaxes in American history, namely "The Cardiff Giant." Barnum's prized attraction, his Cardiff Giant was actually a reproduction of the mysterious petrified statue discovered in New York in 1869, which the showman made in a campaign to advertise the original as a fake after his bid of $50,000 had been refused by the owner. Barnum also writes to Coup that he will join him in New York with Admiral Dot (a.k.a. Leopold Kahn - a young little person hired as a midget performer by Barnum): "I will join you in a show for next Spring and will probably have Admiral Dot well trained this winter." Barnum mentions George Wood, who as a young boy had joined Barnum in the early days of the small operation. He later opened Wood's Museum and Menagerie and, after Barnum had fallen on hard times financially, agreed to purchase Barnum's animals in exchange for 3% of the profits. In the present letter, Barnum states that he is attempting to buy back the animals from Wood who "allows for calling himself my successor. (3 per ct. on rec Read more…
Auctioneer:
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
Date:
2010-11-18
