Done
Chicago, IL, United States
Auction Details
The Zweifel Circus Collection
Potter & Potter Auctions
Our September sale features the remarkable circus archives of John & Jan Zweifel. Lifelong circus fans and collectors, the Zweifels' archives were home to tens of thousands of documents, photographs, and relics, including correspondence and memorabilia, as well as circus and wild west costumes, posters, and banners. Among the featured lots will be objects and documents from the life and career of Tom Thumb and Buffalo Bill, as well as P.T. Barnum, and nearly every "greatest show on earth" of the last century. Circus models, displays, and exhibits from the Museum of Science + Industry, Chicago are also featured in the sale.
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![[CIRCUS EQUESTRIANS]. Archive of photographs. Bulk mid-20th...: [CIRCUS EQUESTRIANS]. Archive of photographs. Bulk mid-20th century. Collection of approximately 100 photographs of circus and Wild West equestrians, horses, trick and bareback riders, and others.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055218_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)

![[JUGGLERS]. Collection of circus juggler photographs. Bulk ...: [JUGGLERS]. Collection of circus juggler photographs. Bulk mid-20th century. Approximately 80 photographs of jugglers, including studio photographs and performance photographs of many different acts,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055222_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[TIGHT ROPE WALKERS]. Collection of photographs. Bulk mid-2...: [TIGHT ROPE WALKERS]. Collection of photographs. Bulk mid-20th century. Approximately 80 photographs of circus high wire and tight rope walkers performing various acts solo and in troupes. Some](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055223_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)


![[CIRCUS & THEATER]. Collection of 16 cabinet photographs of...: [CIRCUS & THEATER]. Collection of 16 cabinet photographs of circus and theatrical performers. Circa 1880s/1900s. Photographs on studio mounts depicting assorted circus, stage, music, and vaudeville](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055229_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)

![[CONEY ISLAND]. The Elephant Bazaar. The Colossus of Archit...: [CONEY ISLAND]. The Elephant Bazaar. The Colossus of Architecture. West Brighton Beach, Coney Island. Circa 1885. Advertising cabinet card photograph for the novelty attraction at Coney Island, a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055233_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Collection of circus elephant photograp...: [CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Collection of circus elephant photographs. American, bulk mid-20th century. Approximately 85 photographs of circus elephants, including images performing; with their](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055234_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Lot of circus elephant photographs, sna...: [CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Lot of circus elephant photographs, snapshots, and ephemera. Bulk American, mid-20th century. Lot of approximately 80 photographs and snapshots of circus elephants, some](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055236_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Collection of circus elephant photograp...: [CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Collection of circus elephant photographs. Bulk mid-20th century. Lot of approximately 80 photographs of circus elephants, many Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey images, as](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055238_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Lot of circus elephant photographs. Bul...: [CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Lot of circus elephant photographs. Bulk mid-20th century. Approximately 30 photographs depicting circus elephants with trainers and performers, in and outside the big top,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055240_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Collection of circus elephant photograp...: [CIRCUS—ELEPHANTS]. Collection of circus elephant photographs. Bulk mid-20th century. Lot of approximately 50 photographs of circus elephants, including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055241_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—DOGS]. Lot of circus and performing dog photographs...: [CIRCUS—DOGS]. Lot of circus and performing dog photographs. V.d. (bulk mid-20th century). Lot of over 40 publicity photographs of circus and variety acts with trained dogs. Generally 8 x](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055243_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS ANIMALS]. Collection of photographs. Mid-20th centu...: [CIRCUS ANIMALS]. Collection of photographs. Mid-20th century. Approximately 75 photographs of circus animals including tigers, lions, seals, camels, gorillas, monkeys, giraffes, and others,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055244_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—TRAPEZE ARTISTS]. Collection of trapeze artists pho...: [CIRCUS—TRAPEZE ARTISTS]. Collection of trapeze artists photographs. V.d. (bulk mid-20th century) Approximately 70 photographs of circus trapeze artists, predominantly shown in mid-air, plus](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055245_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[AERIALISTS]. Collection of circus aerialist photographs. B...: [AERIALISTS]. Collection of circus aerialist photographs. Bulk mid-20th century. Over 100 photographs of circus trapeze and aerial artists, including black and white and a few color prints. Many](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055246_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—EQUESTRIANS]. Collection of photographs of equestri...: [CIRCUS—EQUESTRIANS]. Collection of photographs of equestrian acts and “Queens of the Saddle.” Circa 1900s/50s. Impressive collection of equestrian photographs including ca. late](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055247_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—MONKEYS]. Collection of circus monkey photographs. ...: [CIRCUS—MONKEYS]. Collection of circus monkey photographs. Mid-20th century. Approximately 30 photographs of monkeys, including chimpanzees and gorillas, performing with their trainers in](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055248_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—CYCLING ACTS]. Collection of photographs of circus ...: [CIRCUS—CYCLING ACTS]. Collection of photographs of circus trick cyclists. Bulk mid-20th century. 26 photographs of trick unicyclist, bicyclist solo and troupes on the tight wire, juggling, and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055249_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS]. Collection of photographs of lady artists and cir...: [CIRCUS]. Collection of photographs of lady artists and circus beauties. Circa mid-20th century. Collection of approximately 80 press and publicity photos depicting lady circus acts and showgirls in](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055250_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS]. Collection of photographs of lady artists and cir...: [CIRCUS]. Collection of photographs of lady artists and circus beauties. Bulk mid-20th century. Approximately 60 studio and press photographs of lady artists of the circus, including equilibrists,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055251_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
![[CIRCUS—BANDS & MUSIC]. Collection of photographs of circus...: [CIRCUS—BANDS & MUSIC]. Collection of photographs of circus bands and bandleaders. Circa 1900s/50s. Approximately 50 photographs, including early 20th century photographs and snapshots of](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/928/259477/135055252_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1661545183)
