Print: "General Tom Thumb" by N. Currier
Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
1849 (Date manufactured/created)
12.75 in H X 9 in W
Print featuring Charles S. Stratton, better known as General Tom Thumb, a little person celebrity-performer who worked with P. T. Barnum. The picture, which dates to 1849, is composed as a series of individual black and white illustrations surrounding a portrait of Stratton standing on a chair to show his diminutive size. This portrait has been hand-colored in grey-blue, green, yellow, and red, all now faded.
The vignettes depict Stratton in his character costumes, and also show his famous miniature "equipage" (coach, ponies, and liveried footmen). The print is by Nathaniel Currier, who would later hire James Merritt Ives as his bookkeeper, and then make him a partner in the firm in 1857. Currier & Ives grew to become a well-known printer and publishing company that produced affordable, popular prints, often as a series or several relating to a broad theme. The market for images and other souvenirs depicting Stratton was strong as "Gen. Tom Thumb" had quickly become a celebrity in the mid-1840s and retained his popularity throughout his life. Over the years this print was produced in different versions, differing both in the vignette illustrations and the text. This one, dated 1849, may be the earliest.
Here the border illustrations along the left side, from top to bottom, show Stratton dressed as Napoleon Bonaparte; a Scottish Highlander; Cain; a Gladiator; Hercules; and Cupid aiming his bow and arrow. At the top center there is an illustration of Stratton's miniature carriage, ponies and coachmen called "Equipage." On the righthand side, running from top to bottom the illustrations depict Stratton as an American Tar (sailor); a Yankee; Ajax; Romulus; Samson; and Cupid. A cartouche at the bottom center presents the title "General Tom Thumb / Born 1832 18 28 Inches High and / Weighs Only 15 Pounds / From a Daguerreotype by Plumbe." The latter phrase indicates that the portrait image was derived or copied from a daguerreotype, an early form of photography, suggesting to the viewer that it is an accurate likeness. The year of birth is incorrect by six years, however Barnum promoted Stratton as older than he actually was in order to make his size seem all the more incredible. in 1849, Stratton was actually 11 years old. The meaning of the number "18" in the center is unknown. In the lower margin, a promotional announcement in upper case letters reads: "Now Performing with Barnum's Traveling Museum and Menagerie."
Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Barnum was introduced to Stratton when he was a very young child, and recognized the boy's innate talent and engaging personality. Barnum brought him to the American Museum in New York City where he was taught to act, sing, and perform various character roles. Stratton was only 5 years old, but his immediate success launched a stellar career, and soon after he began touring nationally and internationally. Barnum promoted him as the "Man in Miniature" since he was perfectly proportioned, though only about two feet tall having virtually ceased growing when about seven months old. Stratton took quickly to performing, and he entertained audiences worldwide, including nobility such as Queen Victoria. Stratton's performances brought him renown as a celebrity, perhaps one of the biggest at the time, and considerable wealth. At age 25, Stratton married fellow performer M. Lavinia Warren and the two had a happy marriage. The couple continued touring and performing, and ventured on a three-year world tour that made them internationally famous. 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.
The vignettes depict Stratton in his character costumes, and also show his famous miniature "equipage" (coach, ponies, and liveried footmen). The print is by Nathaniel Currier, who would later hire James Merritt Ives as his bookkeeper, and then make him a partner in the firm in 1857. Currier & Ives grew to become a well-known printer and publishing company that produced affordable, popular prints, often as a series or several relating to a broad theme. The market for images and other souvenirs depicting Stratton was strong as "Gen. Tom Thumb" had quickly become a celebrity in the mid-1840s and retained his popularity throughout his life. Over the years this print was produced in different versions, differing both in the vignette illustrations and the text. This one, dated 1849, may be the earliest.
Here the border illustrations along the left side, from top to bottom, show Stratton dressed as Napoleon Bonaparte; a Scottish Highlander; Cain; a Gladiator; Hercules; and Cupid aiming his bow and arrow. At the top center there is an illustration of Stratton's miniature carriage, ponies and coachmen called "Equipage." On the righthand side, running from top to bottom the illustrations depict Stratton as an American Tar (sailor); a Yankee; Ajax; Romulus; Samson; and Cupid. A cartouche at the bottom center presents the title "General Tom Thumb / Born 1832 18 28 Inches High and / Weighs Only 15 Pounds / From a Daguerreotype by Plumbe." The latter phrase indicates that the portrait image was derived or copied from a daguerreotype, an early form of photography, suggesting to the viewer that it is an accurate likeness. The year of birth is incorrect by six years, however Barnum promoted Stratton as older than he actually was in order to make his size seem all the more incredible. in 1849, Stratton was actually 11 years old. The meaning of the number "18" in the center is unknown. In the lower margin, a promotional announcement in upper case letters reads: "Now Performing with Barnum's Traveling Museum and Menagerie."
Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Barnum was introduced to Stratton when he was a very young child, and recognized the boy's innate talent and engaging personality. Barnum brought him to the American Museum in New York City where he was taught to act, sing, and perform various character roles. Stratton was only 5 years old, but his immediate success launched a stellar career, and soon after he began touring nationally and internationally. Barnum promoted him as the "Man in Miniature" since he was perfectly proportioned, though only about two feet tall having virtually ceased growing when about seven months old. Stratton took quickly to performing, and he entertained audiences worldwide, including nobility such as Queen Victoria. Stratton's performances brought him renown as a celebrity, perhaps one of the biggest at the time, and considerable wealth. At age 25, Stratton married fellow performer M. Lavinia Warren and the two had a happy marriage. The couple continued touring and performing, and ventured on a three-year world tour that made them internationally famous. 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.
T 2013.024.001