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Original Circus Poster "Gargantua" Ringling Bros./Barnum and Bailey, 1938
Original Circus Poster "Gargantua" Ringling Bros./Barnum and Bailey, 1938
Details
Original Circus Poster "Gargantua" (Ringling Bros./Barnum and Bailey, 1938). One Sheet (28" X 42") Horizontal Style.
We had the poster professionally restored with linen backing to give it a much longer life. You can see in the photos some of the creases, stains and tears which were in original poster and have been repaired.
Has Stobridge name at bottom and number 382 at top right at shown in photos.
"Buddy," was born in the Belgian Congo and lived on a freighter with the boat's captain. One day a drunk sailor threw acid in his face marking him for life physically and mentally. This heinous act left him with a grotesque and frightening look. Becoming aggressive he was given to a wealthy New York woman who dressed him in clothes and drove him about in her car! After he climbed into bed with her for comfort from thunder (all 460 lb of him!) she sold him to John Ringling in 1937. Ringling immediately changed his name to "Gargantua" and exhibited him from 1938 to the gorilla's death in 1949. Ringling always admitted that millions of circus goers drawn to "Buddy's" exhibit saved Ringling Bros. from bankruptcy during the war years. Original posters, from the great Strobridge lithography company, have always been sought by poster collectors the world over. This is a particularly nice, horizontal style, one sheet, featuring a dramatic drawing of Gargantua hoisting a Congo native over his head. This is a true piece of vintage Americana. There are only soft folds, minor fold separations, light wrinkles where the snipe was applied, and a few removable date snipe remnants at the bottom. Please see full-color, enlargeable image below for more details.
We have backed the poster with linen to retain it's shape and condition. Linen adds another 1.5 inches to each side
Poster will be packed well and shipped rolled, in a tube.

Reserve: $1,500.00

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Location: This item ships from Illinois

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