Set of two pamphlets promoting Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth and the Great London Circus for Lowell, Massachusetts on July 22, 1885 and Brattleboro, Vermont on July 21, 1885. Save for the location, the pamphlets are identical to each other. Meant to fold out to reveal a poster, the pamphlet is folded in on itself six times. The second part of the pamphlet contains dense text advertising different aspects of the show, along with five illustrations. The first is that of P.T. Barnum, the second shows Jumbo the Elephant with a horse drawn carriage being driven underneath him, followed by a crowd looking at sea lions, and two depictions of different cultures meant to exoticize South American and Indian culture respectively. That portion is followed by a third part that bears the title Inquire Within. On that page and the next is a block of text that lays out the purpose of the pamphlet: to advertise the show, and offer little pieces of information. Spread throughout the rest of the pamphlet is information on a variety of topics including history, different types of measurement and mathematical calculations, and geographical information. The full sized fold out features incredibly dense text highlighting all of the attractions at the circus. At the top of the poster is a larger image of Jumbo the elephant with a horse drawn carriage being driven underneath him. Also included are four illustrations: at the bottom of the page is a depiction of Jo-jo the dog-face Russian boy, the performer Fedor Jeftichew, at home in Russia with men coming into his family's home. On the left hand side is an illustration of warriors charging on giraffes, and on the right are two jockeys standing astride two horses as they race in the circus ring. Barnum is best known for his involvement with the circus, but his circus ventures came about when he was in his 60s. The first show was called P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus. Railroads propelled the circus to success, making it easier to reach a number of locations, and the intake was significant. Barnum then opened the New York Hippodrome with similar acts. In the 1880s, he encountered competition from other circuses. A merger between Barnum's show and the Great London Show of Cooper, Bailey, and Hutchinson formed the Barnum and London Circus. Negotiations in 1887 formed the Barnum and Bailey circus. The name remained until 1919 when it became the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. It came to an end in May 2017 when the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus ceased performances after 146 years.
