Phineas Collection

CIRCUS POSTER, 1920s. American poster, 1920s, for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus

CIRCUS POSTER. Barnum & Bailey, c. 1912

CIRCUS POSTER, 1920s. American poster for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus, 1920s

CIRCUS TRAIN from Barnum & Baileys Greatest Show on Earth, c. 1905

Perseus turning Phineas and his Followers to Stone, Early 1680s. Artist: Giordano, Luca (1632-1705)
Perseus turning Phineas and his Followers to Stone, Early 1680s. Found in the collection of the National Gallery, London

CIRCUS POSTER, c1950. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus poster, c1950, when the three-ring circus still performed under a tent

Caricature of P T Barnum and Jumbo the elephant
Caricature of Phineas Taylor (PT) Barnum (1810-1891), American showman and businessman, and Jumbo the African elephant which he bought for his circus from London Zoo in 1882

GARGANTUA CIRCUS POSTER. Gargantua the Great on an American circus poster, 1938

CIRCUS POSTER, 1899. Equestrienne Ada Castello on an American circus poster, c1899

Perseus and Medusa, c. 1660. Creator: Giordano, Luca (1632-1705)
Perseus and Medusa, c. 1660. Found in the Collection of the Museo di Capodimonte, Naples

Perseus with the head of Medusa turning his enemies into stone, Loves of the Gods, 1597
AIS5382719 Perseus with the head of Medusa turning his enemies into stone, Loves of the Gods, 1597 by Carracci, Annibale (1560-1609); Palazzo Farnese, Rome

Then Perseus held aloft the Gorgons head (colour litho)
STC445078 Then Perseus held aloft the Gorgons head (colour litho) by Davie, Howard (fl.1914-44); Private Collection; (add.info)

Down came two fearful monsters, the like of whom man never saw (colour litho)
STC445084 Down came two fearful monsters, the like of whom man never saw (colour litho) by Davie, Howard (fl.1914-44); Private Collection; (add.info)

Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) American showman: co-founder of Barnum
531972 Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) American showman: co-founder of Barnum and Bailey circus. Edward Linley Sambourne cartoon from Punch London 1884 in the Fancy Portraits series showing Barnum

CIRCUS POSTER. Side show on a Barnum & Bailey circus poster, c. 1898

P. T. BARNUM / JAMES A. BAILEY on an American circus poster, c1897
P.T. BARNUM/JAMES A. BAILEY on an American circus poster, c1897

CIRCUS POSTER, 1942. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus poster by E. McKnight Kauffer, 1942, featuring " 50 famous elephants with beautiful girls" in a ballet composed by Igor

PHINEAS TAYLOR BARNUM (1810-1891): oil over a photograph, c1860

NEW YORK: BROADWAY, c1856. Broadway photographed, c1856, from P.T. Barnums American Museum at Ann Street in lower Manhattan

BARNUMs ELEPHANTS, 1851. Herd of elephants, part of P. T. Barnums Traveling Menagerie
BARNUMs ELEPHANTS, 1851. Herd of elephants, part of P.T. Barnums Traveling Menagerie. Engraving, American, 1851

Circus Poster, 1916
CIRCUS POSTER, 1916

BALLET: ONDINE, 1862. Scene in the grand spectacle of Ondine, performed at Barnum s
BALLET: ONDINE, 1862. Scene in the grand spectacle of Ondine, performed at Barnums American Museum, 1862. Contemporary American wood engraving

JENNY LIND (1820-1887). Swedish soprano singer. Jenny Linds first concert in America, 1850, at P.T. Barnums American Museum, New York City. Contemporary American cartoon

P. T. BARNUM (1810-1891). American showman. Original carte-de-visite photograph, c. 1860
P.T. BARNUM (1810-1891). American showman. Original carte-de-visite photograph, c. 1860

P. T. BARNUM (1810-1891). Phineas Taylor Barnum, photograph, n. d
P.T. BARNUM (1810-1891). Phineas Taylor Barnum, photograph, n.d

PHINEAS TAYLOR BARNUM (1810-1891). American showman. Original cabinet photograph

CIRCUS ELEPHANTS, 1884. The Great Elephant Controversy. An elephant belonging to the Maharaja of Patiala, next to P.T. Barnums elephant, to which it bears a striking resemblance

BARNUM AND BAILEY, 1898. Scenes from Barnum and Baileys Circus as performed at the Olympia Theatre in London, 1898. Contemporary English newspaper engraving

AD: P. T. BARNUM, 1873. American advertisement for P
AD: P.T. BARNUM, 1873. American advertisement for P.T. Barnums circus in New York City in October 1873

PARADE OF RINGLING CIRCUS featuring the Calliope wagon, in Columbus, Ohio, in 1900

ELEPHANT BOY HOAX, 1887. Barnums big chance. The extraordinary freak of nature to which Mrs. Kretschner of Bridgeport, Connecticut, has just given birth

Jumbo, the Childrens Giant Pet. American poster for Barnum, Bailey and Hutchinson Circus, c1882
CIRCUS POSTER, c1882. Jumbo, the Childrens Giant Pet. American poster for Barnum, Bailey and Hutchinson Circus, c1882

American showman. Daguerreotype by Mathew Brady, mid-19th century
P.T. BARNUM (1810-1891). American showman. Daguerreotype by Mathew Brady, mid-19th century

A Farewell Ride on Jumbo at the Zoo. This large African elephant was sold by London Zoo in 1882 to the American showman Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891)

Jumbo the large African elephant sold by London Zoo in 1882 to the American showman Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) for his circus which became known as the Greatest Show on Earth

Jumbo the large African elephant sold by London Zoo in 1882 to the American showman Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) for his circus which became known as the Greatest Show on Earth

Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) American showman: co-founder of Barnum and Bailey circus. Engraving published London 1864

Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) American showman. Co-founder of the famous Barnum and Bailey circus. Engraving, 1884

(1802-1866). American mental healer. Wood engraving, 19th century
PHINEAS PARKHURST QUIMBY (1802-1866). American mental healer. Wood engraving, 19th century

American patent medicine trade card for Castoria, c1882, featuring P. T. Barnums celebrated elephant Jumbo
JUMBO: PATENT MEDICINE. American patent medicine trade card for Castoria, c1882, featuring P.T. Barnums celebrated elephant Jumbo

CIRCUS HANDBILL, c1884. Jumbo the elphant featured on an American handbill for Barnum, Bailey and Hutchinson Circus. Wood engraving, c1884

BARNUMs MUSEUM, 1853. The Happy Family Display, a wide range of animals living in harmony, at P. T
BARNUMs MUSEUM, 1853. The Happy Family Display, a wide range of animals living in harmony, at P.T. Barnums American Museum in New York City. Wood engraving, English, 1853

PHINEUS AND BOREADS. Phineus, King of Thrace, rescued from the Harpies by the Boreads, Calais and Zetes, in the course of their journey with Jason and the Argonauts

BARNUMs MUSEUM, 1853. View of P. T. Barnums American Museum on Broadway, New York City. Wood engraving, American, 1853
BARNUMs MUSEUM, 1853. View of P.T. Barnums American Museum on Broadway, New York City. Wood engraving, American, 1853

P. T. BARNUM / JUMBO. New Yorkers hailing the procession of P. T. Barnums elephant, Jumbo
P.T. BARNUM/JUMBO. New Yorkers hailing the procession of P.T. Barnums elephant, Jumbo, on its way to Barnums circus headquarters at Madison Square Garden from the Battery after arriving from England

JUMBO, DEAD, 1885. P. T. Barnums dead elephant, Jumbo, after encountering a locomotive at St Thomas, Ontario, Canada
JUMBO, DEAD, 1885. P.T. Barnums dead elephant, Jumbo, after encountering a locomotive at St Thomas, Ontario, Canada, 15 September 1885: contemporary wood engraving

P. T. BARNUM (1810-1891). American showman. Line and stipple engraving, 19th century
P.T. BARNUM (1810-1891). American showman. Line and stipple engraving, 19th century

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Step right up and witness the mesmerizing world of Phineas. This captivating 150-year-old circus legacy continues to enchant audiences with its dazzling spectacles. From the vibrant American posters of the 1920s, showcasing Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey's extraordinary performances, to the iconic circus train that transported this Greatest Show on Earth in the early 1900s. Phineas Taylor Barnum, a visionary showman, brought wonder and excitement to millions through his grand productions. His name became synonymous with entertainment as he introduced larger-than-life characters like Jumbo the elephant and Gargantua the Great. These legendary figures captured hearts and imaginations across generations. But Phineas was not just about spectacle; he had an eye for art too. The exquisite painting by Luca Giordano depicts Perseus turning Phineas and his followers into stone, illustrating both mythological tales and timeless artistic mastery. Even beyond the circus realm, Phineas left an indelible mark. Caricatures immortalized him alongside P. T. Barnum himself - two pioneers who revolutionized entertainment forever. The magic lives on in every detail – from equestrienne Ada Castello gracing a stunning poster from 1899 to Uncle Tom's Cabin illustrations engraved by Henri-Desire Charpentier in litho form. So step into our time machine as we celebrate Phineas' enduring legacy - a testament to human imagination, creativity, and boundless joy that has captivated audiences for over a century.