Circus Poster Collection!

Just started listing some beautiful vintage circus posters on eBay! They all come from an old time collection of 1940s era circus posters I've just taken in on consignment from a South Jersey collector. The graphics are unbelievable on these and the colors are so vibrant! Each of the posters are a unique work of lithography. Tigers, Hippos, Clowns! Each poster screams Circus! All posters are guaranteed original and any one of them would look super framed on your wall!

The circus depended on it's advertising to announce that it was coming to town. The circus often spent more money on advertising than any other industry at the time! Litho posters were a colorful and attractive way to advertise their shows. Advance "scouts" would travel ahead of each circus and post signs and posters for everyone to see. The success of the circus depended on filling the tent with paying customers and they went all out on designing and printing these colorful advertisements. Many of these old posters were torn down after the event and they are difficult to find in good condition.

Thanks for looking at my latest items up for bid!

http://www.postcardguy.com/

Vintage Circus Photographs

Every now and then a vintage photograph comes along that begs further investigation. Such was the case of the one shown above. At first glance, it seemed like just a random photo of a happy couple. But closer examination shed some light on the couple.

The image was taken by a photographer probably during the 1890s-1910 era. The cabinet photo measures approx. 4" x 6". It pictures a super view of a young man and woman, but both of a very large size! The back of the photo read "Chauncey Morlan, Age 25, Wt 602, Wife age 22, Wt 526". A quick "google" search revealed that they were a circus side show attraction of some type. The photographer turned out to be famous circus / sideshow / freak photographer Wendt of Boonton NJ. He was famous for his rare images of midgets, giants, fatmen, sword swollowers, jugglers and bearded ladies!

Chauncy Royse Morlan and Annie Bell were married in 1892 at Huber's Museum in New York. Afterward the couple toured with the Barnum & Bailey Circus in Europe. Upon returning to the US, they continued to travel as the fattest married couple in the world "with a combined weight of 912 pounds". During the off season the Morlans returned to their home in Indianapolis, Indiana - Chauncy's home state. Annie would die at age 31, and Chauncey at age 43.

I'm happy to offer this neat piece up for bid now on eBay. A neat old piece of photographic Circus history!