Phineas Barnum
n.p., ca. 1879
P.T. Barnum 2x Signed Cabinet Card Dated 1879, When He Introduced Zazel the Beautiful Human Cannonball!
SP

A vintage cabinet card twice signed by American showman Phineas T. Barnum (1810-1891), the first time as "PT Barnum" outside the photo field along the bottom edge recto; and the second time as "PT Barnum / 1879" near the top of the verso. 1879. N.p. The sepia-colored albumen photograph shows a bust-length portrait of Barnum with his face and torso turned in 3/4 profile. The photographer's facsimile signature in gilt, along with the studio address in Buffalo, New York, are printed along the bottom edge as: "McMichael / 246 Main St., Buffalo, N.Y." The photograph is affixed to a cream-colored mount with a blank pale pink reverse. Expected surface wear including toning. Scattered scuffs, foxing, and flyspecking especially verso, else very good. 4.25" x 6.5".

Around this time, Barnum's face and physique was described by a Portland, Maine journalist, who wrote: "He is a man about 60 years of age with a round full face, high forehead, and sharp bright eyes, which are separated by a prominent nose. His head is partially bald, but there is still a good supply of grey curly hair. His appearance is striking and one who had ever heard of the man would know him at once. In short he looks like Barnum all over…" Barnum was photographed at the studio of Canadian-born portrait photographer Hezekiah McMichael (1844-1907), who had opened a studio in Buffalo, New York in 1870. Interestingly, though he had no personal ties to the city, Barnum's two biographical self-promotions, "Struggles and Triumphs; Or, Forty Years' Recollections of P. T. Barnum" (1883) and "Life of P.T. Barnum, Written by Himself; Including his Golden Rules for Money-Making" (1888) were both published by The Courier Company, Printers of Buffalo, New York.

Barnum recounted in his biography that a highlight of 1879 was introducing Zazel, the Beautiful Human Cannonball, into the Greatest Show on Earth. [P.T. Barnum, "Life of P.T. Barnum" (Buffalo, New York: The Courier Company, Printers, 1888), pg. 322.] Already a veteran circus entertainer at age 18, Zazel - whose real name was Rossa Richter (1860-1937) - had been a child vaudeville actress, dancer, and gymnast. In addition to excelling at high-diving, tightrope, and the trapeze, Zazel was shot out of a spring-style cannon covering distances from 20-70 feet until landing into a safety net. She became one of Barnum's headlining acts along with "Captain Constentenus, The Tattooed Greek Nobleman, tattooed from head to foot."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 4.25" x 6.5"
  • Medium: SP

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