Physical object: Brass token with Lady Liberty and General Tom Thumb
Card player counter
Game counter
Unknown creator, American (associated with)
Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
1844 – 1850 (Date manufactured/created)
Brass token, game counter, or souvenir of Charles S. Stratton, better known as General Tom Thumb. The token is the size and has the appearance of a coin; it is 7/8" in diameter. Although one might consider this a souvenir item, it was probably intended to be used as a counter for playing the card game, whist.
The obverse (front) features a left-facing profile portrait of "Lady Liberty," with her long curled hair flowing from a cloth headband or wrap. Around the edge of the token on the left are seven small stars, and on the right, six small stars, the total representing the original thirteen colonies that became the United States. There is no date at the lower edge. The reverse side features a portrait of Stratton next to a stack of books with one of the books standing. The image is a simplified version of Charles Baugniet's lithograph portrait of Stratton, done in 1844. Due to the small size of this token, the background elements in the original portrait have been eliminated. The text around the top edge reads “GENERAL TOM THUMB," and beneath his portrait, "15 lbs WEIGHT.” The token or game counter was probably struck by the Birmingham, England, firm of John Allen and Joseph Moore, who did others like this. The token dates to 1844 or later.
Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the early 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage, and continued touring and performing. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The obverse (front) features a left-facing profile portrait of "Lady Liberty," with her long curled hair flowing from a cloth headband or wrap. Around the edge of the token on the left are seven small stars, and on the right, six small stars, the total representing the original thirteen colonies that became the United States. There is no date at the lower edge. The reverse side features a portrait of Stratton next to a stack of books with one of the books standing. The image is a simplified version of Charles Baugniet's lithograph portrait of Stratton, done in 1844. Due to the small size of this token, the background elements in the original portrait have been eliminated. The text around the top edge reads “GENERAL TOM THUMB," and beneath his portrait, "15 lbs WEIGHT.” The token or game counter was probably struck by the Birmingham, England, firm of John Allen and Joseph Moore, who did others like this. The token dates to 1844 or later.
Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the early 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage, and continued touring and performing. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
2000.007.003