Poster/broadside “Up to the Same Old Tricks…The Funny Side of the Circus as seen and sketched at the Madison Square Garden by P. Richards / With Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth / Wishing You A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The Smiths / A. Morton ·Louise · Dan · Jerry.” With cartoons of 23 clown acts (not scary clowns!) A. Morton Smith was editor of the Gainesville Register and an authority on circuses. The Gainesville Community Circus evolved out of a project to make up a $300 deficit of the Little Theatre in May 1930. The first two shows were so popular that the performers gave a third show, overall earning $420. They also got a request to perform at the County Fair the following year. 

The Gainesville Community Circus was distinguished by a staff of amateurs with full-time jobs most of the year. They also provided their own costumes, equipment, etc. Eventually, the circus had three rings with all the expected acts – trapeze artists, tightwire performers, acrobats, jugglers, and the ever-present clowns, as well as trained animals. The official program indicated that between 1930 and 1952 they gave over 350 performances in 57 cities. 

Lithograph of “Charles S. Stratton, Known as General Tom Thumb….Born Jan. 11th 1832. He is smaller than any infant that ever walked alone. Is 25 inches in height and weighs only 15 pounds!”  12-1/2 x 17” (moderate scattered browning) [London]: Day & Haghe, Publ. Baugniet (lith.), 1844(?) 

Lithograph: “Mr. & Mrs. General Tom thumb. [Chas. S. Stratton.] New York: Benj. W. Hitchcock, Publisher, 1863. 10 x 11-3/4”. (moderate overall browning)

Lithograph: “General Tom Thumb and Lady, Comd. Nutt and Miss Minnie Warren. 10 x 13”. N.d., n.p. (good overall condition)

Postcard-sized lithograph, 3 x 5”, “Genl. Tom Thumb & Wife / In the Carriage Presented by the Queen. / H.R. Jacobs, Manager.” On verso is a list of appearances. 

Hand-colored lithograph: "The Wonderful Albino Family. / Rudolph Lucasie, Wife and Child, from Madagascar. / They have pure white skin, silken white hair and pink eyes / though born of perfectly Black Parents!! / Now Exhibiting at Barnum’s American Museum New York.” New York: Currie & Ives, n.d. 10 x 14” (top edge damaged, including most of title gone, moderate browning)