The2FunAdGuyz offer a new, high-quality reproduction print of an early wild animal poster advertising for the combined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.  Many aficionados of circus posters consider this one of the greatest circus posters of all time.  A great snarling Siberian Tiger is shown on the attack; his full face, intense eyes glaring at the observer.  Circus images such as these helped create the legend and myth of almost all wild animals and this portrayal of a Siberian Tiger is one of them.  Charles Livingston Bull is credited with this poster.  Bull is recognized as one of the best animal artists ever.

This particular male tiger also appears in a companion poster that we have in our circus collection that shows only the face of the tiger and was probably also done by Bull but no one knows for sure.  To see that poster Click here.

Phineas T. (for Taylor) Barnum was born on July 5, 1810 and died on April 7, 1891.  In those eighty-one years he made his name synonymous with showmanship and brought hucksterism to new heights.  After a series of business failures, Barnum bought Scudder’s American Museum in New York City and turned it into the world’s greatest freak show whose acts included Tom Thumb and Grizzly Adams.  He retired from show business in 1855 after a triumphal tour of Europe with Tom Thumb.  However, he returned in 1871 to create a traveling circus and freak show that he called “the greatest show on earth”.  In 1881 he merged with James Bailey and the new Barnum and Bailey circus operated until his death.  In the early 1900’s the show was sold to Ringling Brothers to create the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey circus which survives to present day.

The five Ringling Brothers founded their circus in the 1880s and were one of a dozens of circuses/wild animal shows that traveled the country.  Their success made them one of the largest of such shows.  After buying Barnum and Bailey the brothers at first operated the shows as two separate shows.  In 1917 the two shows were combined and for the next ten years achieved phenomenal success.  The depression began the decline of the show—ending with the final performance under a big top in 1956.  Irvin Feld brought the company out of stagnation by playing in large metropolitan arenas.  The Feld family is today one of the best known entertainment companies in the world 

This is a must have for the person who enjoys collecting circus memorabilia.

This new print is on a high-quality 100# glossy text paper.  The actual image measures ” 16.5 (w) X 10.5” (h).  The paper is 17” (w) x 11” (h).  Therefore, it has a small border to allow for framing.  When matted, this size is perfect for a standard 16” x 20” frame, a manageable size for a variety of decorating purposes.

 To view all of our circus prints, photographs, posters and ads Click here.