P.T. BARNUM - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 67943

P.T. BARNUM
A letter to an associate regarding photographs of him for sale from his copy of Life magazine
Autograph letter signed "P.T. Barnum", 1p, 6x6½. No place, no date. To Mr Hagar or Hentham. In full: "The bearer Mr H.T. Allen will show you an enlarged copy of my Life, with twenty three or four additional pictures. He will supply us these at 50 cts without the gold around the face or 53 cts with it-in quantities of not less than one thousand. I think you can offer both kinds and sell more of the large than the smaller size-but you can tell Mr Allen what you think about it." The Life of P.T. Barnum "Written by Himself" was first published in 1855. Between 1855 and 1888, at least nine new or revised editions of the autobiography were published. In 1841, P.T. Barnum had purchased Scudder's American Museum in New York, adding to it to make his museum one of the most popular shows in the U.S. Barnum retired in 1855 (the year his "Life" was first published) but, because of creditors, resumed his career as showman and museum proprietor in 1857. In 1869, Barnum organized "The Greatest Show on Earth". He was Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1875. In 1881, Barnum became partners with James A. Bailey of Cooper, Bailey and Company's Circus, forming "Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth". Barnum died in 1891. In 1907, his circus was sold to Ringling Brothers. Lightly creased, soiled. Lightly nicked upper and left edges. Minor separation at right blank mid-horizontal fold. Ink smudged on 2 words. Lightly smudged "Ba". Otherwise, fine condition.