Historic Newspapers: Circus
PORCUPINE'S GAZETTE, Philadelphia, March 15, 1798 This was William Cobbett's important and controversial--but short-lived--daily newspaper. Cobbett was a prolific & controversial publisher who… more
NEW YORK HERALD, August 22, 1812
* Scudder's American Museum
* Leatherback sea turtle display
A back page notice for the: "Mammoth Turtle In Scudder's American Museum" takes nearly half a column and… more
NATIONAL ADVOCATE, New York, July 3, 1820
* Jewish newspaper publisher Naphtali Phillips
"Daring Outrage" on pg. 2 describes the capture of a ship off Cape Henry by a "piratical brig". Another… more
* Circus Notice
On page 3 under Circus are details about the performances, including the grand equestrian melodrama of Timour The Tartar. Other
THE MICROSCOPE & INDEPENDENT EXAMINER, Albany, New York, May 19, 1821 This is the volume 1, number 11 issue of a somewhat uncommon title, existing until 1824.
The front page has an unusual item… more
THE CORRECTOR, Sag Harbor, May 4, 1839 On the front page under Circus are details about the splendid Equestrian Establishment performed by A. Turner, Sons & Co. 4 pages in good condition. Early for… more
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington D.C., August 22 , 1844
* General Tom Thumb as a young boy
* P.T. Barnum circus attraction
Page 3 has a report about "Tom Thumb At Paris" that reads,… more
SALEM GAZETTE, Salem, Massachusetts, June 16, 1846
* Illustrated circus advertisement
* 19th century Salem, Massachusetts
Page 3 has an ad: ""Mammoth Circus! Grand Entertainment with Great… more
THE UNION DEMOCRAT, Manchester, New Hampshire, Sept. 7, 1852
* General Tom Thumb - dwarf
* P.T. Barnum circus attraction
The front page has: "Barnum and Tom Thumb" which includes a letter from… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, August 6, 1859 The front of the issue features a poem entitled "The Grandmother's Apology" by Alfred Tennyson with an illustration by Millais. Inside are 12 small… more
DOLLAR WEEKLY MIRROR, Manchester, New Hampshire, August 20, 1859 Pg. 4 has a full column ad for "The Real Genuine Monster Show - Nixon & Co.,'s Mammoth Circus." This also includes small… more
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, Sept. 19, 1859 Pg. 6 has: California A Letter From Mr. Greeley--An Indian Battle. Also has: Letter From Horace Greeley My Political Views and: Important From Colorado Fight… more
THE UNION STANDARD, Lexington, Kentucky, Sept. 12, 1865
* Rare post Civil War title
A scarce title from this border state, shortly after the end of the Civil War. The paper was formally titled… more
The Lawrenceburgh Press, Lawrenceburgh, Indiana, September 24, 1868
* Post Civil War era illustrated circus ad
Page 3 has a full column ad for "Col. C. T. Ame' New Orleans Menagerie and Circus… more
THE DAILY JOURNAL, Wilmington, North Carolina, October 14, 1868 Taking a full column on the front page is an ad for: "Stone & Murray's Circus" with a list of the attractions and performers, and… more
THE WORLD, New York, April 28, 1871 The frontpage carries a headline "Smashing A Circus" with subhead "Barnum's Caravan Run Into on the New Jersey Central Railroad", "Two men Killed and Wagon… more
WORCESTER EVENING GAZETTE, Massachusetts, June 11, 1872
* Dan Rice's circus
* Shooting affray
This issue has news of the day with several interesting advertisements throughout.
The front… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 14, 1872 (excludes Supplement - see note) Halfpg: 'The Coon Hunt' shows several Black men telling stories Round the camp fire. Halfpg: 'Seeing the Circus Pass--A Va.… more
THE NEW YORK TIMES, December 25, 1872
* Phineas Barnum Circus Museum Fire
The back page has an article headed: "NEW-YORK FIRES" "A Million Dollars' Worth of Property in Flames" "Barnum's… more
THE NEW YORK HERALD, December 25, 1872
* Christmas eve train wreck disaster
* Cross Cut Railroad - Portland, New York
* Phineas Barnum Circus Museum Fire
The top of page 5 has a one column… more
SALEM GAZETTE, Salem, Massachusetts, May 2, 1873 The front page has a two-column width, page length ad "World's Fair and L.B. Lent's Leviathan Universal Living Exposition" and "Great New York… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 7, 1873 (supplement not included - see note below)
The front page features a full page illustration: 'The Burial of Captain Hall' with an accompanying article and a… more
BETHLEHEM DAILY TIMES, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1873
* Very nice illustrated Circus advertisement
Page 2 has two columns entirely taken up with a nice, graphic advertisement for a circus, being… more
TOWANDA BUSINESS ITEM, Towanda, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1873 This single sheet issue has news of the day with several advertisements including a very nice illustrated circus ad on the reverse side.
… more
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, Sept. 25, 1873
* P.T. Phineas Barnum ad
The photo shows the nice page five, 2 1/2" by 12" ad for " P. T. Barnum's Great Traveling Museum Menagerie", which includes a… more
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, Oct. 1, 1873
* P.T. Phineas Barnum ad
The photo shows the nice back page ad for " P. T. Barnum's Great Traveling Museum Menagerie" which includes a portrait of Mr.… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 4, 1873 The full ftpg. features one of the better circus-related prints to be had, captioned "The Circus Coming Into Town" which shows a circus wagon with a band… more
DESERET EVENING NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, July 7, 1874
* "Montgomery Queen's Circus" advertisment
* Child performer "Little Mollie Brown"
* ‘The only Female Somersault Rider in the World’
*… more
DESERET EVENING NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, July 9, 1874
* Mormons - Mormons - LDS
* Secular vs. Ecclesiastical Authority
* Targeting the "School of the Prophets"
Page 2 has nearly two columns… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 12, 1875 The doublepage centerfold of this issue is a very nice print captioned: "Fair Time--The Entrance to the Circus Tent" showing a woman and child on horseback,… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 10, 1875 Fullpg: 'The International Rifle Match, The American Team'. Fullpg. Nast Cartoon: 'Homo-Phobia'. Halfpg: 'The Frigate 'Constitution', 'Old Ironsides' '.… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Aug. 7, 1875 Full ftpg. Nast political cartoon, and another fullpg. by him inside. Halfpg. shows a balloon ascension. Nearly fullpg: 'The Austro-Hungarian Arctic… more
THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN, St. Louis, March 26, 1877
* Samuel P. Stickney
* Circus horseback rider
This uncommon Midwestern title has news of the day with many advertisements. Page 5 has an… more
THE CLEVELAND HERALD, Cleveland, Ohio, September 26, 1877
* Hunting animals for the zoo & circus
* Lions - tigers - elephants & more
This uncommon 8 page issue has news of the day with… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 8, 1879 Full ftpg. Nast print: 'The Civilization Of Blaine'. Full page has 4: "Scenes At Pine Bluff, Arkansas". Dblpgctrfld: "Life in Southern India--Return from… more
ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Missouri, April 21, 1879
* W.W. Cole's Circus & Menagerie
This uncommon Midwestern title has news of the day with many advertisements. Page 3 has an article headed:… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 3, 1880 Front full pg. illus. of "The Explosion in the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg - Scene in the Guard Room." Inside is a full pg. illus. of "Preparing for… more
* Nice illustrated circus advertisement
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 31, 1880 Front full pg. illus. of "The Democratic Trojan Horse." Inside is a full pg. illus. entitled "General Hancock Gulliver, How do You Like it as far as You've… more
* The Old West in California
* Circus ad
On the front page under Amusements is an ad for performances at Coles Amphitheater featuring
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 2, 1881 This issue includes a full front page illustration by Thomas Nast entitled "U.S. Circus" and a full page illustration by W.A. Rogers entitled "The Old Way… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 7, 1881 Full front page Thomas Nast illustration "New York Must Go - Down". One-third page illustration: 'Buildings for the International Cotton Exposition, Atlanta,… more
FRANKFORT DAILY DISPATCH, Frankfort, Kentucky, Sept. 12, 1881
* Great circus advertisement
A typical newspaper of the day with various news and advertisements. The front page includes:… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 20, 1882 Full front page political cartoon by Thomas Nast: "Fiendish Assassins--Poor Ireland, Save me from my friends!". Over halfpg: "The Old Church at Sleepy… more
NEW YORK TIMES, March 26, 1883 The 1st column of the front page has a multi-column article headed: "FORGETTING PARTY FEUDS", with subheading: "THE REPUBLICANS OF NEW YORK ANXIOUS FOR HARMONY",… more
BELLEFONTE REPUBLICAN, Bellefonte, Pa., September 19, 1883 Page 5 has a full column advertisement for " The Great Forpaugh Show" which includes 3 illustrations of the various attractions and… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 26, 1887 Full front page illustration by Frederic Remington: College Players At Foot-Ball---A Tackle And Ball-Down. Inside has a related report: The College… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 3, 1887 The front page print: "Jules Grevy, President of the French Republic". Fullpg: "Panic Stricken Animals Of Barnum's Circus During A Fire". Halfpg: "Group… more
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 14, 1888 Full front pg. illus. of "A Sea Change" pertaining to the front pg. poem. Inside is a full pg. illus. of "The Cincinnati Centennial Exposition-Venetian… more
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