Comments on: Circus Posters — Authentic or Reproduction

By: Larry Kellogg

Larry Kellogg — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:57:30 +0000

Al, Based on the size this is probably a reproduction of a Lawson Wood poster. Even if it were an original, the price is a bit high.

Larry

By: Al Septien

Al Septien — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:44:47 +0000

I’m looking at a RBBB litho called RBBB Monkey Parade. It measures 21 x 14 and is priced at $650. Do you know anything about this poster? I can send you an image via Twitter. Please let me know if you have any info on this poster. Thanks.

By: nick sorensen

nick sorensen — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:16:06 +0000

i have a barnum and bailey greatest show on earth 14by 18 1/2 border on top and bottum and 1/4 on the sides 13-b(?)no 221 in the right corner says attraction extraordinary a congress of 50 pf japans famous strong men and woman gladiators swordsman wrestlers jiu jitsu and atletic champions the in the bottom right it says copyright 1913 i think the strobridge litho co cinncianti and new york

By: Kale S

Kale S — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:07:17 +0000

Found a old poster still in sealed type frame so didnt wanna tear open but i see no numbers indicating its a copy curious if you could tell me anythin about it plz! Its copyrighted 1910 by Strobridge Litho Co and its a Ringling Bros Worlds Greatest Shows and The Four McCree’s Americas Foremost Equestrians and theres 3 dif pics sorted on it on bare backs of horses. my mother sd it hung in her room in 60′s when she was child. is this original? is there value w/ it or just cool memories?

By: Michael Rumble

Michael Rumble — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:57:38 +0000

Hi;

What does P-6—786 stand for in the bottom left hand corner of my circus poster?

Thanks
Mike

By: Kenneth Florey

Kenneth Florey — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:57:49 +0000

Larry,
I picked up a Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey poster recently at a book auction entitled “The Children’s Favorite Clown.” The image is 11 7/8″ x 15 7/8″ on paper stock, and with the border (which is about 1/2″) slightly and somewhat crudely trimmed, it comes to 13 1/8″ x 17″. It came in an old frame, and while I suppose the light trimming could have been done to eliminate a modern copyright notice, it also could have been done to make the poster fit the frame (which it just barely does). There is no question that the poster has age to it. In fact, there is some staining at the top that has gone through the poster that apparently came from a highly acidic backing at one point. There is also age toning to the entire piece. The image itself has a black border (prior to the white). Going on-line, I see that modern reproductions of this image seem to be without that black border. Anyway, based on my description, is it possible to tell if this is a reproduction or an original? Thanks!

By: michael davis

michael davis — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:17:21 +0000

i have two pictures, they are both 10×8 lithos on old presswood backings almost like cork. one is the army of clowns print. and the other is a bunch of different animals with two monkeys in the center almost manlike in appearance. there are dates of copyright 1910 and 1909. they appear original but i cant tell. do you have any idea?

By: Renee

Renee — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:54:07 +0000

My neighbor is 87 years old and was associated with the ringling brother circus and attended circus shows all over the country. He primarily helped care for and train the animals, particularly lions and tigers (I saw photos of this!!!). He has a great deal of circus memorabilia and would like me to sell some of these on eBay. He does not know what they are worth as they were given to him by the circus and at the shows. He has given me 3 posters to start out with and I can’t find them anywhere on the internet. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. The first poster says “Ringling Bros World’s Largest Menagerie” “Original Ringling Bros. Poster – 1909″ It has the faces of the Ringling bros in the corner above a menagerie of animals, copywright 1909 by The Strobridge Litho Co. It is printed on a 14 x 16 cardboard and looks like it was glued to corkboard and has many small tack holes in it. The next one says “Ringling Bros World’s Greatest Shows” “The Four McCrees – America’s foremost equestrians.” It also has the faces of the Ringling bros in the corner above people standing on 3 horses, copywright 1910 by The Strobridge Litho Co. It is printed on a 18 x 24 cardboard and is glued to a corkboard, there are some light stains on it. Last but not least is a 1989 poster that appears to be on card stock. It is 22 x 14 and says “Kenneth Feld present The Greatest Show on Earth, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Baily brought to you by” and then there are 5 elephants with Jif, Crisco Oil, Duncan Hines, Pringle’s and Crisco written in them. There is 1 large tiger. At the bottom it says “Dec. 27 thru 30 Circus Arena.” copywright Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combines Show, Inc. 1989. Any advise???

By: Harold Wolverton

Harold Wolverton — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 18:49:39 +0000

I have one of the Ringling/Barnum&Bailey posters with the black rhino charging. I’ve owned it at least since 1975 when it was on the wall in my dorm room. I think I bought at a shop in Manhattan. The poster is in two pieces which together are about 6 ft. high by 10 ft. wide. It has been sitting on a shelf folded for most of the time since. Some of the creases are split and I think I reinforced a few with masking tape on the back. I’ve seen smaller version sell for $300+.

My question is what to do with it ? It feels wrong to just toss it. I don’t really have a place to display it. Princeton doesn’t want for their collection. It should be worth something. “Restoring” it with a cloth backing would probably cost me at least $1,000 that I don’t have right now. So, I’m looking for options/ideas.

By: Stehanie

Stehanie — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:34:12 +0000

100th Anniversary Ringling programs have little value, even when the posters are intact. They sell for $10 or less.

By: Stehanie

Stehanie — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:40:15 +0000

I have two of the org. posters from the 100th anniversary souvenir program book. I wanted to know how much they are worth. They were never taking out of the book. The two posters are 1888 Ringling bros.Portraits of the five brothers. The other one is of Dainty Miss Leitzel.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:29:24 +0000

The poster you have is probably the one I mention in the article above: P-137 – 1895 – Ringling Bros. Mlle Elena.
If the size of your poster is about 24 x 17 it is a reproduction. It might also have the P-137 code in the corner.

By: shannon ferguson

shannon ferguson — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:43:18 +0000

I have a Ringling brothers Mile Elana I am not sure if it is real and if it is what it is worth. I could send a picture of it.

By: Edward

Edward — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 17:23:16 +0000

No, posters that size would not be original.

By: Edward

Edward — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 03:43:24 +0000

I just want to know if the posters I have are original or reproduction. I have 3 “Leaping Tiger” posters that are approximately 24.5″ X 16.5″ and have no serial number. They do have a faint 1923 in the lower right corner and no staple marks. I appreciate any help.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:30:58 +0000

This image was first used by Ringling in the early 1920s. The Dover reproduction you have was printed in the mid 1980s.

By: doug

doug — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:11:46 +0000

i have a framed picture of p-24 seven clown heads, it is hard cardboard, very shinny, has a gold frame around it, manufactured by Dover Publications #0-486-5965-6 is on the right bottom corner, what can you tell me about it , wondering when it was made, foung it in a goodwill store

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:49:09 +0000

No it isn’t an original. It’s a recent reproduction.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 02:43:12 +0000

I recently seen a roughly 18 x 24 sign/poster of Gargantua (the largest gorilla ever exhibited) at an antique store.
It seems to be printed on some sort of heavy plastic that is translucent. There just the words “Litho in U.S.” written on the bottom left. There are two cleanly punched holes at the top left and right. Is this an original advertisement used by Barnum and Bailey? When could it have been made? Thanks.

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:08:17 +0000

Joel,

Based on the size I would say it is an original.