This bright and colorful circus poster depicts six seated clowns with their backs to the audience and an alphabet letter on their back spelling out the word “Circus”. It is a reissued poster by Ringling Brothers from 1971 of one of their original 1936 promotional circus posters.
To commemorate their 100th anniversary, in 1971, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey, produced reissues of some of their select and most famous authentic posters dating from 1883 until the 1930’s. There were 30 different posters, and they were advertised as “The only antique posters authorized by the greatest show on earth”. They were sold at traveling circus shows, and measured roughly 17″ x 24″. They were all identified by a number preceded by the letter “P”. The numbers ranged from #103 thru #202. These are not cheap “Amazon print outs”, but rather 50 plus year old items, as I have described.
I was able to acquire four of these posters from a prominent “circus collection”. This one is labeled “P-149” as indicated in the lower right hand margin and described in the first paragraph. Entitled “Seated Clowns With Circus On Their Backs”, it is very colorful in red, blue, green, etc; is all original with no repairs, no touch-up; and professionally mounted under glass; in a contemporary black, metal frame, with preservative backing; and ready to hang hardware on the rear. In lovely condition, this poster is suitable for any type of decorative placement.
Dimensions:
(with frame) 17″ high x 24 1/2″ wide x 1″ deep
actual poster= 16 1/2″ x 24″
Please see the other three posters I have listed.