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Giants

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings

Found in 17 Collections and/or Records:

Circus Research Material, 1891 - 1935

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178B30.37
Scope and Contents A large volume of typed and handwritten material referring to information published in newspapers and journals including the Strand Magazine, The Royal Magazine, McClure's Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, The Bookman, The World Magazine, Cassells's Magazine, American Magazine, The Toronto Star Weekly, Everybody's Magazine, Collier's Illustrated Weekly, St. Nicholas Magazine, Popular Science Monthly, Pearson's Magazine and Saturday Evening Post on animal training and other aspects of wild...
Dates: 1891 - 1935

Enquirer Printing Company Collection

 Collection
Reference code: NFA0125
Scope and Contents

This collection of printed material produced by the Enquirer Job Printing Company contains American sideshow and freak show posters mainly from the Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’ franchise and a poster sampler that was taken around by salesmen from the company.

Dates: 1869; c1930 - 1949

Female Colossus Handbill, 1824

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 2: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.208
Scope and Contents

Female Colossus or celebrated Swiss giantess, 19 years old, six feet seven inches tall. Giantess Catherine Boebner at 125 St James's St, Brighton. Printed by Fleet, Brighton.

Dates: 1824

French Giant Handbill, 1822

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 1: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.79
Scope and Contents

French Giant at 22 New Bond Street. "Immense French Giant 7Ft 4 in. of Wonderful strength perfectly proportioned and only 22 Years of Age". Printed by Handy, 50 Brewer Street, Golden Square.

Dates: 1822

Giantess in Europe Handbill, c1800 - 1830

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 2: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.218
Scope and Contents Reuzin the Dutch giantess. In the New Elegant Lodge, Standing on the Butter Market, Quiet Side. Important Freak of Nature! The tallest, most beautiful and youngest Giantess, now living in Europe. Who has been honoured with a visit from our Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Hendrik and the Prince of Orange. The world wonder, Elsbeth, called Murphy in female shape. Of exceptionally athletic build. Her appearance causes the greatest surprise. Never seen before. Excellent proportion of...
Dates: c1800 - 1830

Handbills, c1786 - 1968

 Series — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 1: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1
Scope and Contents

Handbills for travelling shows, fairs, exhibitions and performances in London.

Dates: c1786 - 1968

Hassan Ali Envelope, 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178Z50.1
Scope and Contents

Brown envelope with text reading Hassan Ali, Egyptian Giant, Barnum and Bailey Show 1899.

Dates: 1899

Hassan Ali Memento, c1800 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178Z50.7
Scope and Contents

Hard cover booklet with red and black squares pattern and gold spine containing a black and white image of Hassa Ali, Egyptian Giant at 28 years of age.

Dates: c1800 - 1899

O’Brian the Irish Giant Illustration, 1893

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 3: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.309
Scope and Contents

Illustration featuring a giant at nearly nine feet high.

Dates: 1893

Photographs, c1900 - 1968

 Series
Reference code: 178C79
Scope and Contents Black and white photographs, postcards and negatives of the Testo family, performers, side shows, animals, fairgrounds and circuses including Angela Rabbets ‘Jungle Girl’ female snake act, Sonya Alan ‘Lady of Lions’, men and women in WWI and WWII uniforms, Golga Testo snake act with Bertram Mills Circus, Pauline Testo, Alf Testo, Nora and Billy Kayes, Jack Lemm and his Troupe at Testo’s show, members of the Chipperfield family, members of the Dobson family, members of the Pinder family...
Dates: c1900 - 1968

Photographs and Postcards, c1902 - 1942

 Series — Multiple Containers
Reference code: 178C139
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs, postcards and negatives of fairs, rides, circus and performers, including a House of Laughter at the Empire Exhibition of 1936-1937 in Johannesburge, South Africa, roller coasters, dodgems, flying chairs, juvenile roundabouts, sideshows, wall of death, Jim Burton's chairs and Pat Collin's Hawaiian natives at Barry Island, negatives of performers and animals in a circus, rides and amusements in Britain, Germany and France.

Dates: c1902 - 1942

Sideshow and Freak Show Posters, c1930 - 1949

 Series
Reference code: 178R45
Scope and Contents

Posters of sideshow and freak show performers printed by the Enquirer Job Printing Company, in Cincinnati, USA, many of which for Leroy Robert Ripley's Believe it or Not franchise.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Testo Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0032
Scope and Contents

This collection comprises photographs, business records, articles, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, advertising material, family research and items of personal archive related to the Testo family history in the fairground and circus

Dates: 1898 - 1999

The Viking Giant direct from Iceland Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.8
Scope and Contents

Johann K. Peterson in person, 8’ 8’’ tall, weight 425 pounds, world’s tallest man. Printed on card. Black and white photograph in the centre showing a tall man in Viking outfit stood next to a small man. Photograph on a yellow background with red footer and red, black and white type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Various Items, c1800 - 2019

 Series
Reference code: 178Z50
Scope and Contents

A range of circus related items related to Hassan Ali, Adha Issacs Menken, Barnum and Bailey, funeral items, illustrations of circus parades, circus tickets, discount vouchers and booking forms, circus themed stickers, famous clown clay models, circus themed jigsaw puzzles, circus model figures, comics books and children's books, Circus Friends Association related material, Montecarlo Circus Festival related items, Jesse Fossett's throwing knives and other items.

Dates: c1800 - 2019

Violet Bartram Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0195
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs, negatives and postcards of fairgrounds, amusement parks, circus and performers, a newspaper cutting and a handbill.

Dates: c1902 - 1953

Wonders Will Never Cease Handbill, 1819 - 1820

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 2: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.256
Scope and Contents

The English Giant, Smallest Man in the World and The English Giantess. Shown around the UK in a travelling Pavilion “an opportunity...of seeing a gratifying Contrast between a Dwarf and Giants” a giant, small man and a giantess who were exhibited around the UK. Printed by C. Pick, Feasegate, York.

Dates: 1819 - 1820