Original Tom Thumb Suit - P.T. Barnum

Original suit as worn by Tom Thumb (Charles Sherwood Stratton, 1838-1883) P.T. Barnum's star attraction. Includes wooden model form under an acrylic display, coat with tails, pants, moleskin vest and white linen shirt. The shoes are not period to the suit. Provenance: Original property of John A. Wood (1834-1924) and wife Rosina Delight Richardson Wood (1833-1878). Rosina was known as the "Mammoth Queen" weighing in at over 800 pounds, was exhibited at the Boston Museum and Barnum's Museum. She was with the outfit at the time of the Jul 13th, 1865 Barnum Museum fire which destroyed the institution. When Rosina died, John re-married Stella Gillespie Hooper Wood (1868-1942)of Portsmouth, N.H. The suit was later owned by Allan C. Hill (1948-2007) of Great American Circus fame. Upon Hill's passing, a private, prominent collector in the Sarasota, Florida area came to new ownership until now. Included within three-ring binder: Hill obit, Newspaper clippings pertaining to Wood's ownership, solication letters to purchase Thumb memorabilia and other newspaper clippings pertaining to Tom Thumb. Wear commensurate with age, suit is complete. Exceptionally scarce and a rare opportunity to own such a historic artifact. Height of model is 34". This item requires third party shipping.

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