#aquatic adventures

Barnum & Bailey / Coney Island. 1898. Anonymous.

27 ¼ x 37 in./69.3 x 94 cm

Beginning in 1880, and continuing until World War II, Coney Island was the single biggest amusement area in the United States. For more than a century it’s been adored for the pure carnival fantasy of it, the mass congregation of its sideshow characters, and an atmosphere of devil-may-care lunacy. This classic poster was used by Barnum & Bailey for their British tour of 1898-1899, and served to enhance the reputation of this freewheeling national treasure in New York City. A visual delight as well as a historic document of great interest, this image was also published in the more common horizontal format. Bottom text reads: “Remarkable head-foremost dives from enormous heights into shallow depths of water, together with thrilling & daring aquatic & sub-aqueous feats of every description.”

Available at auction February 25, 2018.