Barnum and Bailey:  Furious Two and Four-Horse Chariot Races
Original Vintage Circus Poster, 1895

Breath-taking 19th Century Barnum and Bailey circus poster for their European tour.
The artwork, typical of Strobridge Litho Company is simply stunning.   Spectacular artwork of chariots and horses is the ultimate trio back in time!.  Maybe not 119 years ago as when this poster was used to promote the biggest circus, but certainly 30-40-50 years ago when we were kids in awe under the "Big Top".  Amazing condition for 120+ year old poster and has been professionally linen backed.

* Be sure to click the enlargeable images above and below for detailed viewing

Barnum and Bailey: Furious Two and Four-Horse Chariot Races (Strobridge Litho Co., 1895). Poster (30.5" X 40").
Harkening back to the circuses of Ancient Rome, this thunderous poster from the famous Strobridge Litho Company says it all, "Furious two and four-horse chariot races, stubbornly and hotly contested, with brave male and female charioteers. Finishing with the winners of each class pitted against each other in the final struggle for the victory." In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the traveling circus was America's most popular public entertainment. With no radios or televisions, and motion pictures still in their early stages, the lively grandeur and pageantry of the circus captivated spellbound audiences. For a poster that's over a century old, this piece looks like it could have been printed yesterday. Tears in the bottom border and chips in the top border have been restored with airbrushing and touchup that render these imperfections invisible. A big opportunity to own a Big Top gem! Very Fine on Linen. 

** Note: We recently acquired Nine spectacular historical vintage Circus Posters from the late19th and early 20th century.  See them all below under SIMILAR TREASURES YOU MAY LIKE

Strobridge, the outstanding American lithography company, produced many of the best circus and Wild West advertising posters of the late 1800's and early 1900's, particularly the outstanding posters for the Barnum & Bailey Circus, "the Greatest Show on Earth." The coloration and crisp detailing of these Strobridge posters makes them instantly recognizable to advanced collectors, even the versions that were executed in other languages. That's right, Strobridge would produce posters in the U. S. for the big shows that they would take with them for use overseas

Strobridge Lithography Company BIO:
The Strobridge Lithography Company created some of the most artistically stunning posters in the 19th, and early 20th century.  In the genre of vintage posters they produced "masterpieces"!.   Strobridge was founded in Cincinnati in 1847 by Elijah Middleton and eventually bought out by one of its workers, Hines Strobridge, remaining open until 1971. Offices were located in downtown Cincinnati, Norwood, and New York City.  Strobridge was most famous for its circus posters, often producing them for The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey. Libraries and museums all over America, including the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress, hold examples of Strobridge’s “Amazing American Circus Poster.” However, because the Strobridge firm was based in Cincinnati, Cincinnatians are fortunate to be in the vicinity of many of the greatest Strobridge collections. In addition to the Archives & Rare Books Library, the Cincinnati Public Library and Cincinnati Art Museum are valuable resources for Strobridge enthusiasts.

Note: Cvtreasures stamp NOT on original poster