P.T. BARNUM - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 02/28/1856 - HFSID 350455
Sale Price $2,749.00
Reg. $3,250.00
P.T. BARNUM
This extraordinary letter was handwritten, signed and dated by Barnum. It's written on
unique letterhead that incorporates a flyer from his Gallery of American Beauty and
talks about his financial woes and about Charles Stratton - better known as General
Tom Thumb, one of Barnum's biggest attractions.
Autograph letter signed "P.T. Barnum". 1 page, Barnum's American Museum, New York,
February 28, 1856. To Messrs H.B. Curtis & Scribner. The letterhead that this was
written on is unusual and increases this piece's interest. It was written on letterhead from
Barnum's American Museum, New York. The right side, which is overall 4¾ x 7½ has a 3½ x
7½ blank area for writing and a left margin promoting Barnum's subsidiary enterprises. The
integral leaf at left is a handbill promoting Barnum's "The Gallery of American
Beauty,/One Hundred Premiums presented to the Handsomest Women In America!"
In full: "As I am in debt to you for professional services I send you by Express my
accountbooks which I assign to you. I trust in the course of time you will be able to
collect something handsome & if you do not obtain sufficient to pay what I owe you, I
still hope to be able to pay the balance. Yours in regard to the assignment to Mrs.
Stratton is recd all right." This letter was written at the nadir of Barnum's financial
losses from his investing in the development of East Bridgeport, CT in the early 1850s
and his being swindled to invest the bulk of his fortune and his name in the Jerome
Clock Company. Barnum wanted the company to move its offices from Litchfield to
East Bridgeport as a boon to his development plan in return for him guaranteeing the
company's loans. In the year of this letter Barnum was endeavoring to pay back all his
debts. In 1857, Barnum moved to New York and began his career again as a showman
and museum proprietor. Barnum's American Museum (1841-1865) was on the corner of
Broadway and Ann Street in lower Manhattan. Little person CHARLES S. STRATTON was
only four years old when he joined Barnum's organization in 1842. Barnum paid all traveling
and boarding charges for himself and his mother ("Mrs. Stratton"). Stratton, billed as
General Tom Thumb, was 17 when this letter was written. Lightly creased. Mid-vertical
fold, lightly soiled touches some text with a 2 x ¼ tape remnant touching some text. A 2 x
¼-inch tape remnant is at left page, touches mid-vertical fold, printed text. Fold is also soiled.
Overall, fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 25 x 21¾.
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