Handbill: The Original and Celebrated General Tom Thumb, the World-Renown American Man in Miniature at the Brooklyn Institute

Handbill promoting the appearance of The Original and Celebrated General Tom Thumb, the World-Renown American Man in Miniature at the Brooklyn Institute. This bill advertises the appearance of Charles S. Stratton some time after his European tour concluded in the late 1840s. In addition to listing the location of the performance and the times, it includes information about his recent tours and promises new songs and dances. Stratton's age is given as 22 years old on the advertisement, although Barnum's tendency to advance Stratton's age to emphasize Stratton's height should caution us against using the handbill to accurately date Stratton's age. At the bottom of the handbill is an illustration of Charles S. Stratton in front of his miniature carriage, which is being pulled by miniature ponies and watched by a small crowd. Measures 11.5 inches by inches. Printed by Wynkoop, Hallenbeck and Thomas. Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838- July 15, 1883), known as General Tom Thumb, was an entertainer and Bridgeport, Conn. native who got his start with P.T. Barnum in 1842. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum at age 4, as exhibiting those with dwarfism was lucrative at the time. Stratton took quickly to performing, and he entertained audiences worldwide, including nobility such as Queen Victoria. Stratton married fellow performer M. Lavinia Warren and the two had a happy marriage. Stratton's performances brought him renown as a celebrity, perhaps one of the biggest at the time, and he and Warren were able to live comfortably when not working. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with his wife beside him.