Ticket: Complimentary ticket to "The Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth" from J. A. Bailey
Barnum and Bailey (created by)
1893 (Date manufactured/created)
Paper Documentary Artifact
2 in H
X
4 in W
Complimentary ticket for "The Barnum & Baily Greatest Show on Earth," 1893, bearing the printed signature of Barnum's former business partner, James A. Bailey. This ticket is similar to modern tickets in having a perforated edge, and a unique number stamp on it. In addition it features a light background image in green, the ticket itself being a pale pink tone, these features making the ticket hard to replicate. The ticket reads "The Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth / P. T. Barnum and J. A. Bailey, Equal Owners / Admit One / (Not good for two children) / With compliments of" followed by Bailey's signature. The ticket number, 4343, is printed in red ink near the bottom left corner. Running vertically in the left margin is "J. A. Bailey" and in the top margin "10 - C." Barnum died in 1891, and Bailey continued to operate the circus until his own death in 1906. Regardless, this 1893 ticket names Barnum and Bailey as equal owners. The center of the background design features the year 1893, with a large B on either side. The back of the ticket features another design in the same pale green ink, with the name Barnum and Bailey at the top, in the center a lion's head and a tiger's head facing the date 1893, and beneath, "Greatest Show on Earth."
Barnum is best known for his involvement with the Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth, 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 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.
Barnum is best known for his involvement with the Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth, 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 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.
1998.014.001