Courier: P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth combined with the Great London Circus for Jackson, August 28, 1884

Courier for P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth combined with the Great London Circus performing at Jackson on August 28, 1884. The cover of the courier features portraits of J.A. Bailey, P.T. Barnum, and J. L. Hutchinson, surrounded by elaborate text that promotes the various performances in the circus. Heavily featured are the ethnological congress of savage tribes, the Sacred White Elephant, and Jumbo the Elephant. Within the pages of the courier are descriptions and promotions of various acts within the circus, all using over-the-top language. Illustrated within are the Sacred White Elephant being worshiped in it's own home country in South East Asia; Chang the Chinese Giant; Leopold S. Kahn billed as Admiral Dot...the Cupid of the Dwarfs; the only American-born baby elephant whom Barnum named Baby Bridgeport; [?] billed as Major Atom; Australian cannibals; Wild Moslem Nubians riding giraffes; the Aztec wonders, Haughty Syrians shown on horseback; Nautch Dancing Girls and Singers in the middle of a dance; Indomitable Afghans who are seen to be gathered together and holding firearms; worshippers venerating a multi-headed deity; two additional illustrations of tribes, including one that is seen getting ready to attack a tiger; a number of individuals of the Zulu tribe dancing; the extraordinary race of Todars herding cattle; giant sea lions; a giraffe being walked around a circus ring; two hippos; the Elliot family performing on their bicycles; three wing-footed fletchers roller skating; a group of performers; and a woman coming down a zip-line while attached to the line by what looks to be her nose or mouth. On the back of the courier shows a city crowd watching Jumbo go past their building, a flag bearing the words Welcome Jumbo featured. Barnum is best known for his involvement with the circus that bore his name, 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.