1863 P.T. BARNUM CIRCUS SIDE SHOW MIDGET TOM THUMB CURRIER & IVES ADVERT LITHO For Sale

This fascinating, Currier & Ives Advertising Print, measures 16\" by 12\" (including visible margins on all sides) and is framed for display in what appears to be its original simple wood frame with original glass and hand chamfered backboard. This outstanding hand colored, Stone Lithograph features a central portrait of the four \"Little People\" on the day of the marriage of Tom Thumb to Lavinia Warren at Grace Church. This central image is surrounded by smaller, vignette images of scenes depicting the performers in various costumes and activities as they appeared at the time at Barnum\'s American Museum in New York City.

Text below the images reads in full: “Genl. Tom Thumb & Wife, Com. Nutt & Minnie Warren. / Four Wondrously Formed & Strangely Beautiful Ladies & Gentlemen in Miniature, Natures Smallest Editions of Her Choicest Works. The Greatest Wonder in the World. A Married Couple, a Bachelor & a Belle All Four Weighing But 100 Pounds. They are All Perfect in Development, Educated & Intelligent and Fitted Both Intellectually and Physically For the Duties & Requirements of Life. Robust Health, Beauty, Grace, Manly Dignity & Feminine Sweetness are Combined in Them in the Ample Manner. No Exhibition More Marvelously Beautiful Has Ever Been Seen on Earth”. The Lithograph is copyright 1863 by the publishers and lithographers - Currier & Ives. P.T. Barnum himself could not have titled this lithograph better and likely wrote this title when commissioning this work.

In 1863 General Tom Thumb\'s (Charles Stratton) marriage to Lavinia Warren, (another Barnum Attraction) became front-page news. The wedding took place at Grace Episcopal Church and the wedding reception was held at the Metropolitan Hotel. The couple stood atop a grand piano in New York City\'s Metropolitan Hotel to greet some 2,000 guests. The best man at the wedding was George Washington Morrison (\"Commodore\") Nutt, another dwarf performer in Barnum\'s employ. The maid of honor was Minnie Warren, Lavinia\'s even smaller sister. Following the wedding, the couple was received by President Lincoln at the White House. Stratton and his wife toured together in Europe as well as Japan.

\"The Fairy Wedding Party\" became Barnum\'s most popular and well known attraction and at the time when this Lithograph was printed they were appearing at Barnum\'s Museum in New York City. This Lithograph was issued to promote that appearance and was likely commissioned of Currier & Ives by P.T. Barnum himself!!

This wonderful and very rare, Currier & Ives Stone Lithograph is in very good condition. The strike is dark and bold and the minimal hand coloring is unfaded. There is no physical damage to the sheet of any kind - no tears, no edge damage, no chipping, no creases and no repairs of any kind. There is some light water staining along the bottom edge and a darker water stain at the top of the right hand edge affecting the margin area only. There is also some light overall age toning. With a light, professional cleaning the Lithograph will display in excellent++ condition. The original frame is intact and sound retaining the original \"wavy\" glass and the original, hand chamfered backboard. The finish on the wood frame is worn and dulled but there is no significant damage of any kind.

A very rare and important, original, 1863 Currier & Ives, Stone Lithograph Advertising Print for P. T. Barnum’s American Museum Premier Sideshow / Circus Freaks / Human Oddities Exhibit \"The Fairy Wedding Party\" and a fantastic addition to any collection!!!

Overseasshippping is extra and cost will be quoted at buyers request. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax.

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Important Notes about Shipping Charges:

The amount quoted for Shipping & Handling is calculated by and is equal to the EXACT amount charged by the Post Office plus a $1.00 \"packing fee\" - the $1.00 fee is our only compensation for the virgin packing materials we use on all of our professionally packaged boxes as well as our cost for the salaried help that does most of our packing - as I am sure you can see, we make NO profit on the Shipping charges and, in fact, our costs are usually greater than the $1.00 fee. Please contact us if there are any issues regarding the cost of shipping.

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