[EARLY PHOTOGRAPHY - CIRCUS ACTS & COSTUMES]. A collection of 50+ quirky and unusual photographs highlighted by circus performers, costumed subjects, and other oddities, including:

Magic lantern slides: one with Masonic eye, sun and moon, sword pointed to naked heart; one with other Masonic symbols (beehive, scythe, hourglass, Noah’s ark, geometric symbols (rectangles and triangle), eight emblems all together; another with piano keyboard with keys labeled (“A, B, C,” etc.)

Small image with a car, sign on the side: “Free open air show / Banjos -songs- saxophone / Magic – comedy – ventriloquism / tonight 8 p.m.”

Cdv of a man on the porch of a house. On verso: “This villa was won by Private Wm. Robt. Mellish, of the 8th Hussars, in the “Tit-Bits” Christmas competition, 1883.” Stamped across “Specimen Copy.” Photograph by Brown, Barnes & Bell.

Cabinet card of a juggler with a stack of items – many glass – balanced on his chin. H.J. Mueller, Milwaukee, photographer.

5 x 7 in. photo of a man in a clown suit playing banjo.

Cabinet card, portrait of a young man in a large scallop shell, smaller shells on the beach around it. B.F. Ogden & Sons, Albany, NY, photographers.

4 x 5 in. image of kids dressed for a patriotic play.

Cdv of a man with a guitar in hand, drum on his back. Knox, photographer, Athol Depot, MA.

Man in an “Uncle Sam-type” suit.

Several people dressed up, a couple in an animal suit. Sign reads “Mysterious Love Microbe.” 3 x 5.5 in.

Realphoto postcard of child in an “Indian” costume.

Partial realphoto postcard of people in a dragon(?) costume.

Photo of juggler. Apeda Studio photographer, NY.

Three guys in costumes, stringed instruments in front of them.

Realphoto postcard, woman playing violin while lounging on another woman’s back.

Three guys sitting on a crescent moon, with banjo and guitar.

Two guys on a crescent moon, one holding a periodical.

Realphoto postcard of a very short and very tall man shaking hands, each with a musical instrument.

4.5 x 6.5 in. photo on larger mount. Nine children in costume, one has a drum, others with triangles, tamborines, cymbals, etc.

Plus 7 more, some involving costumed critters, not readily identifiable.

Lot of 60 total.