Textile: Large Handkerchief featuring story of Jumbo the Elephant
1882 (Date manufactured/created)
Textile/Personal Artifact
Linen
21 in H
X
23.5 in W
Large square linen handkerchief featuring a finely printed border depicting the life story of Jumbo the elephant from his early years up to his acquisition by P. T. Barnum. The name Jumbo is twice printed in uppercase letters forming and "X" in the center of the handkerchief. The satirical illustrations are detailed depictions of Jumbo's life from capture in Africa to his time in England and to his transport to America, where he was to become the star of Barnum's circus. The sale of Jumbo to Barnum and his partners is described in the text that runs below the illustrations and is dubbed a "vile conspiracy," voicing the English people's outcry against the sale of Jumbo and the loss of the beloved pachyderm who lived at the London Zoo. The artist-illustrator and the manufacturer of the handkerchief are unknown, but it is presumed to have been made in 1882 when the sale of Jumbo took place, and perhaps was made in England.
Jumbo the elephant (circa 1861 - September 15, 1885) was extremely beloved in England, called the "Children's Pet" because at the London Zoo he was famous for giving rides to children, a few at a time, on his back. The Director of the London Zoo sold him in 1882 to P.T. Barnum and his partners, whose offer to buy the elephant coincided with increasing problems housing Jumbo. The teenaged male elephant was becoming difficult to manage and quite destructive due to his hormonal changes. However, the English public was furious at the sale, and campaigns were mounted to try and keep the elephant on English soil. The handkerchief represents one way in which public opinion was displayed, though how many of these handkerchiefs were made is unknown. Other more conventional methods included letter-writing campaigns from children to Queen Victoria herself, begging her not to allow Jumbo to leave.
The sale went on regardless of public sentiment, and Jumbo quickly became a main attraction in Barnum’s circus. Indeed, the public outcry in England gave Barnum more publicity than he could have hoped for, and he was quickly able to recover the expense of transporting Jumbo overseas. Jumbo did not live long in North America, however; he was killed by a train on September 15, 1885, while the circus was on tour in Canada. Barnum had his hide stuffed and bones mounted separately to exhibit together as a "Double Jumbo." The taxidermy elephant was then presented to Tufts College, now Tufts University, but was lost to fire in the 1970s. Barnum gave the bones to the American Museum of Natural History where they remain today in the collection.
Jumbo the elephant (circa 1861 - September 15, 1885) was extremely beloved in England, called the "Children's Pet" because at the London Zoo he was famous for giving rides to children, a few at a time, on his back. The Director of the London Zoo sold him in 1882 to P.T. Barnum and his partners, whose offer to buy the elephant coincided with increasing problems housing Jumbo. The teenaged male elephant was becoming difficult to manage and quite destructive due to his hormonal changes. However, the English public was furious at the sale, and campaigns were mounted to try and keep the elephant on English soil. The handkerchief represents one way in which public opinion was displayed, though how many of these handkerchiefs were made is unknown. Other more conventional methods included letter-writing campaigns from children to Queen Victoria herself, begging her not to allow Jumbo to leave.
The sale went on regardless of public sentiment, and Jumbo quickly became a main attraction in Barnum’s circus. Indeed, the public outcry in England gave Barnum more publicity than he could have hoped for, and he was quickly able to recover the expense of transporting Jumbo overseas. Jumbo did not live long in North America, however; he was killed by a train on September 15, 1885, while the circus was on tour in Canada. Barnum had his hide stuffed and bones mounted separately to exhibit together as a "Double Jumbo." The taxidermy elephant was then presented to Tufts College, now Tufts University, but was lost to fire in the 1970s. Barnum gave the bones to the American Museum of Natural History where they remain today in the collection.
2005.003.001