Two items: ALS, one page, lightly-lined, 5.25 x 8.5, Waldemere letterhead, November 13, 1882. Letter to a gentleman. In part: “our favor of today is received. Nothing will give me greater pleasure than to pass Mr. J. Henry Harper & any of the friends and their families in to see Jumbo & our great show in its shirt sleeves. And a strange sight it is. I should prefer to know when they are coming so as to have them see the best. I will gladly meet them on arrival, take them to the show, & bring them to Waldemere if I may know beforehand so as to be out here. I think before spring…will see it to their interests to let those artists see some of our new arrivals. They will be full of interest. The enclosed cards will prove open sesames–where nobody is permitted to enter unless connected with the press.” Letter is affixed by corner tabs to a mount and matted and framed with an ink signature, “P. T. Barnum, Feb. 1881,” on an off-white card, and a portrait of Barnum, to an overall size of 18 x 17. Intersecting folds, a uniform shade of light toning, light show-through from two pieces of tape to the reverse left edge, and a light diagonal crease through end of signature, otherwise fine condition. Signed card bears a light vertical strip of toning. Barnum scored his last great business coup in 1881 when he purchased Jumbo, then the largest elephant in captivity, from the London Zoo. The following year, Barnum and Bailey’s three-ring extravaganza debuted at Madison Square Garden, and has since become an American institution. Excellent relation between Barnum and one of his best-known attractions. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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