Gargantua was the most heavily billed and promoted circus attraction since Barnum's elephant Jumbo in the early 1880s. From 1938, the date of this Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus poster, through 1948, Gargantua traveled from one end of the United States to the other in a huge air-conditioned cage. Learn More
Giraffes were rare zoological features and the inhabitants of the hinterland gazed with awe on these almost incredible creatures. This old Barnum & Bailey circus poster is from 1917. Learn More
To fully appreciate the complex routines of this ?equestrian sensation? , one must stop and study the artwork. The course of the flying, somersaulting bodies is shown with dotted lines and arrows. The sudden appearance of a 24-sheet version of this poster on some old, weatherbeaten fence was sure to attract attention in any town. This Ringling Bros. circus poster dates to 1913. Learn More
Portraits of the owners were used profusely on circus posters to give the townspeople a feeling of confidence in the show they were about to see. Poster contains nice illustrations of acrobatic circus acts. This Barnum & Bailey circus poster dates to the 1890s. Learn More
Only three men, not 13, were in this troupe. The artists? purpose was not to deceive but only to show the various routines that the Herbert Brothers could accomplish. This acrobatic Barnum & Bailey circus poster dates to the 1890s. Learn More
Trained pigs were frequently seen on the traveling circuses. An act of trained house cats might have been included more often on the tiny dog and pony shows, but the one illustrated in this circus poster of a huge railroad circus is indeed a rarity. This Barnum & Bailey circus poster dates to 1890s. Learn More
This circus poster is dedicated to the snake charming routine in the circus. Posters were rarely devoted to snakes. This poster dates to 1894. Learn More
The brilliant red carpet laid on the performing platform sets off the seals and, of course, quickly attracts the eye. The descriptive copy is typical of the boastful way the circus had of proclaiming its acts as something very special. This Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus poster is from the 1930s. Learn More
This old Barnum & Bailey greatest show on earth circus poster showcases The marvelous foot-ball dogs! Nice old poster showing a clown with performing dogs. Photo dates to between 1910 and 1919. Learn More
