[EARLY PHOTOGRAPHY] -- [TOM THUMB]. A group of 7 items involving circus performers and sideshow acts, including photographs and imprints.

Sketch of the Life, Personal Appearance, Character and Manners of Charles S. Stratton, the Man in Miniature, Known as General Tom Thumb, and his Wife, Lavinia Warren Stratton, Including the History of Their Courtship and Marriage, with Some Account of Remarkable Dwarfs, Giants, & other Human Phenomena, of Ancient and Modern Times. New York; Wynkoop & Hallenbeck, 1867. 4 x 6 in. booklet; original illustrated wrappers. -- The Lives of Armond Carloman, the Pibald Youth, and Fortune Clofulia, The Gorilla boy. The Most Extraordinary Phenomena of Nature Existing in the World. Philadelphia: Lloyd & Porter, Publishers, n.d. (ca 1900) 4.5 x 6.5 in. booklet, illustrated wrappers. -- Walter Hampden in “Caponsacchi” and “Hamlet.” New York: Arthur Klar, n.d. 4to. String-tied, stapled spine, front cover with tipped in photo of Hampden. Walter Hampden Dougherty (1879-1955) was an actor and theater manager. He began as a stage actor, playing Hamlet, Henry V as well as Cyrano de Bergerac. He later appeared in a few silent films, but his film career really began in 1939 with the role of Archdeacon in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He appeared on the cover of Time magazine in March 1929. -- Together, 3 publications.

Portrait of "The Fairy Wedding Group." Brady, New York, ca 1863. CDV on cardstock mount. Printed on verso “Compliments of Charles Stratton, Compliments of Lavinia Warren Stratton. JW. McNutt / Minnie Warren.” Each in a slightly different hand. And “Given to Anna K. Neabe(?)” -- Image of horse-drawn carts in front of the billboards for Al. F. Wheeler’s Shows and Circus N.p.: N.p., n.d. 8 x 10 in. photograph (old adhesive on verso, margins scuffed, tear along fold). -- Portrait of Major Small. N.p.: N.p., n.d. 8 x 10 in. photograph. Signed and inscribed in upper right corner: “To ‘Duke’ with Best Wishes from Major Small, 1932." It seems like a continuation of “General” Thumb, “Commodore” Nutt, and now “Major” Small, but we were unable to locate any biographical material on him. -- Portrait of two dancers. [Chicago]: Bloom Chicago, n.d. 8 x 10 in. photograph. Imprint in negative. -- Together, 4 photographs.