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

AURORA GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 14, 1798

• Rare 18th century American publication

Among the front page full of ads is one: "For Sale--A Negro Boy who is near thirteen years old..." with

BOSTON COMMERCIAL GAZETTE, Jan. 3, 1824.

• Circus Notice

On page 3 under Circus are details about the performances, including the grand equestrian melodrama of Timour The Tartar. Other news of the day

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 by:

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

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, in part:

• As

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 Addition In

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

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

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

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

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 "The

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 and

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

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

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 page has a small

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.

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 heading:

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 Museum and

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

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

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 the:

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.

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 portrait of

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. Barnum and

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

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’
• Girl horseback

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

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,

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' '.

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

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 article headed:

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 several

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

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: "In The

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

EASTON EXPRESS, Easton, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1880

• Nice illustrated circus advertisement

• Easton, Pennsylvania

The front page has an ad for: Welshe & Sands Railroad Circus & Royal English Menagerie

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

DAILY EVENING POST, San Francisco, Oct. 11, 1880.

• The Old West in California
• Circus ad

On the front page under Amusements is an ad for performances at Coles Amphitheater featuring The Wonderful Trick

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

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,

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: "Attempt to

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

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",

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

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

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, New York, December 3, 1887 The issue contains illustrations of the latest inventions of the day with accompanying text which include: "Main Pumping Engine of the Boston Sewage

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

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

SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN, Massachusetts, November 25, 1888.

• Circus King Phineas T. Barnum  Retires...

This 8 page newspaper has a small but significant headline at the bottom of the front page: "P.T.