Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 18

Circus Posters

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1980		Clyde Beatty Circus. [1958], 14 x 41 in. Streamer. Photo offset designed to be seen from a distance. Featuring three female aerial performers and a clown. A date tag for Bristol - Levittown is attached. Condition: A. Estimated Value $75 - 125. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $46
Lot 1981		Clyde Beatty Circus. [1958], 14 x 41 in. Streamer. Photo offset designed to be seen from a distance. Featuring three female aerial performers and a clown. A date tag for Bristol - Levittown is attached. Condition: A. Estimated Value $75 - 125. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1982		Clyde Beatty Circus. [1958], 14 x 41 in. Streamer. Photo offset designed to be seen from a distance. Featuring three female aerial performers and a clown. A date tag for Philadelphia is attached. Condition: A. Estimated Value $75 - 125. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1983		Clyde Beatty Circus. Seventeen posters, all from the Clyde Beatty Circus, and all probably from 1958. The circus played Bristol-Levittown, Pa. that year on Saturday, May 25, then moved to Philadelphia for eight days, beginning May 26. Fourteen of these posters have Philadelphia date tags and three have Bristol-Levittown date tags. Three identical posters are 21 x 28 in. silkscreens with a tiger on top of the circus' name. Three other identical posters are 21 x 28 in. silkscreens and show a tiger leaping from its perch onto an elephant's back. Seventh is a 28 x 42 in. silkscreen featuring a large clown's face. The eighth poster is 21 x 28 in. with a small clown's face and the added claim: "World Largest Circus." Posters nine through thirteen are identical 21 x 28 in. silkscreens and feature a large clown's face; "Trained Wild Animal" has been added between "Beatty" and "Circus," and the date tags claim "World Largest Circus." The fourteenth poster is a 21 x 28 in. silkscreened title sheet with the claim, "World Largest Circus." Fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen are identical posters, 28 x 21 in., silkscreens, featuring a variety of acts under the Big Top. Most of the posters are A-/B+. (17 items). Estimated Value $800 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1984		Clyde Beatty Circus. [1958], 21 x 28 in. Silkscreen. Four identical posters featuring a lady bareback performer and her horse, all with Philadelphia date tag attached. Condition: A-. A few tape remnants on verso of top edge, and a couple of tiny fold tears. All of these posters were reconstructed by cutting off the name of another circus and adding Beatty's name tag. Printers were often left with excess stock when circuses went out of business; to save money, another circus would buy the leftover posters and either cut off the old name or paste over it. (4 items). Estimated Value $150 - 250. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1985		Beers - Barnes Circus. [c. 1937], 14 x 42 in. Streamer. Photo offset. D.L. Co. Newport, KY. Featuring three tiers of acts: dogs, clowns, and ponies. Condition: A-. A couple of small marginal tears. Beers-Barnes was in operation 1932-66. (See also #4638). Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $138
Lot 1986		Bond Bros. Big 3 Ring Wild Animal Circus. [c. 1944-47], 28 x 41 in. Silk screen. Triangle Poster Printing Co., Phila. Featuring a large ferocious tiger. Condition: A-. Two tiny tears at folds; a few edge chips in top border, and one small hole just above the "D" in "BOND." Lower right corner has a penned note, "Seneca, S.C. Sept 27, 1935," possibly showing use by an earlier circus. Bond Bros. was in operation in 1896 and 1944-47. Estimated Value $75 - 125. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $40
Lot 1987		Chase And Son Circus. [1937-38], 13½ x 44 in. Streamer. Photo offset, Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring a lady wild animal trainer with eight big cats. Condition: A-. A couple of small fold tears and minor color chipping on her glove and arm. This image was also used by Daily Bros and Sparks Circus. Chase And Son were in business during 1937-38 only, making this a scarce poster. Estimated Value $350 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1988		Cole & Walters Wild Animal Circus. [1953], 28 x 42 in. Silkscreen. Featuring a circus parade, a bareback act, a highwire act, and a clown. With date tag for Three Oaks. Condition: B+. A couple of small fold tears and tape remnants on top verso. Preserved in shrink wrap, on board. The same images were used by the Famous Cole Circus and the Famous Geo. W. Cole Circus. Estimated Value $150 - 250. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $86
Lot 1989		Cole Bros Circus. [1942], 14 x 41½ in. Streamer. Lithograph, Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring a lion, tiger, hippo, elephant, and two giraffes around an African watering hole. Condition: A-. Minor soiling at upper edge and paper remnants in lower border from date tag removal. A great display piece. Estimated Value $450 - 650. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1990		Cole Bros Circus. [1930s or 40s], 28 x 21 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg Co., Erie, PA Featuring the street parade which announced the circus' arrival in town and preceded the first performance. Condition: C because of several fold tears and edge chips; small area of paper loss in the "R" in "PARADE." Worth restoring. Very colorful. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $288
Lot 1991		Cole Bros. Circus. [1937 or 38], 41 x 28 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Showing "three railroad trains of double length cars" of animals from all over the world being unloaded. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. Colorful and attractive--a classic circus poster. Estimated Value $600 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1992		Cole Bros. Circus. [1930s to 1940s], 22½ x 42 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring an enormous "Blood Sweating Hippopotamus From The River Nile." Small inset portraits of the Cole Brothers are in the upper left corner. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. The blood-sweating effect was achieved by feeding the hippo water that was dyed red. "Fantasy" animals such as these were not unusual, as circuses were always looking for something unique--an animal or an act--which no other circus had. John Ringling once paid $100,000 for a very rare (and real) albino elephant--an enormous amount in the 1920s--only to find that other circuses were painting elephants white and calling them "albino." When it rained and the "albino" elephants lost their color, everyone assumed that Ringling's elephant was also a fake. Needless to say, Ringling was enraged that his very expensive investment was rendered worthless. Estimated Value $600 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $345
Lot 1993		Cole Bros. Circus. [1942], 28 x 21 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring "Shirley Barren Riding and Driving 16 Horses In A Stupendous Awe-Inspiring Speed Tournament." Shirley Barren's name has been laid over the name of Dorothy Herbert. (A different poster with the same image features Georgia Sweet, so this image was obviously used over and over, with only the name of the rider changing.) A date tag for Grand Island is attached. Condition: A-. Estimated Value $600 - 900. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1994		Cole Bros. Circus. [1936], 41 x 28 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg Co., Erie, PA. A colorful image of the circus disembarking from a C.B. Line ship, as they "Return Home After A Triumphal Conquest of the Old World." Small inset portraits of the Cole Brothers are at upper left. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. Exceptional eye appeal. This has to be one of the greatest circus posters ever! Estimated Value $600 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $368
Lot 1995		Cole Bros. Circus. [1941], 28 x 44 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring a full panoply of the featured acts and animals in a 3-ring circus. With date tag for Pontiac attached. The poster itself is in A- condition, with only a couple of edge splits in top border; the date tag, which is ragged along left edge, can be removed if desired. Estimated Value $600 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1996		Cole Bros. Circus. [said to be 1937], 28 x 41 in. Lithograph. Erie Litho & Ptg Co., Erie, PA. Mrs. Clyde Beatty, "World's Foremost Lady Wild Animal Trainer," is pictured with two lions, two tigers, and an elephant; a tiger and a lion ride on the elephant's back, as the other animals watch from their perches and Mrs. Beatty stands with upraised whip. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. Date tag removed. This is an especially beautiful poster, imposing and richly colored. Estimated Value $600 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $690
Lot 1997		Cole Bros. Circus. [said to be 1937], 41 x 28 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring "three railroad trains of double length cars" unloading animals from all over the world. Small inset portraits of the Cole Brothers are at upper left. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. A colorful spectacle and a classic circus poster. Estimated Value $600 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $805
Lot 1998		Cole Bros. Circus. [1937], 28 x 21 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA, Featuring June Cristiani, "Greatest Bareback Rider of All Time." The Cristiani family was world-renowned for its bareback acts. A large inset portrait is supposed to be Miss Cristiani, but this same image was used by Cole Bros. in 1935 to promote Jennie O'Brien as the "greatest…" Circuses often put new names on old posters to save money. A date tag for Benton Harbor is attached. Condition: A-/B+. A 1¾ in. closed tear at right margin slightly reaches into image background; a tear in the upper margin has tape on front and back but does not touch image, nor do a few small marginal tears. Matting and framing would cover most blemishes. Very appealing. Estimated Value $600 - 900. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1999		Cole Bros. Circus. [1943], 28 x 21 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring "Gracie Hannefore, Champion Equestrienne of Continental Europe." A date tag for Hastings is attached. Condition: A. Colorful and attractive. Gracie Hannefore was born in 1920 to an English family with a long circus tradition going back to the 1860s. Her father, "Poodles," is considered by many to be the greatest rider of the 20th century; he was the only comedy rider to be inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame. Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2000		Cole Bros. Circus. [c. late 1930s], 21 x 28 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg Co. Erie, PA. Featuring a bevy of beauties: "Blondes, Red Heads, Brunettes, Platinums, and Titian Beauties." Small portrait inset of the Cole Bros. at upper left. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2001		Cole Bros. Circus. [said to be 1939], 41 x 27 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg Co. Erie, PA. A hippopotamus carries two small children on its back to advertise "The Children's Favorite Circus." Condition: Professionally restored to A-. Enormously appealing. Cole Bros. was in operation intermittently from 1906-1952. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $299
Lot 2002		Cole Bros. Circus. [1942], 27 x 21 in. Lithograph. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring a family of acrobats, the "Famous Nelson Family, Miracles of Action and Infallible Calculations…" With inset portraits of the Cole Bros. at upper left. A date tag for Lake Charles is attached, covering the original city of Alexandria. Condition: A- Tape remants on verso of top corners and one tear in margin; date tag has a couple of holes and fold splits. This is a fine litho. The same image was used on a larger Cole Bros. poster (see #4668). Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2003		Cole Bros. Circus. [1942], 41 x 27 in. Lithograph. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring the "Famous Nelson Family," a family of acrobats. Inset portraits of the circus owners at upper left are a little light. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. This same image was used by the Cole Bros. on a smaller poster (see #4631). A fine lithograph. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $230
Lot 2004		Cole Bros. Circus. [said to be 1947], 28 x 21 in. Photo offset. Featuring "'Lucio Cristiani - World's Famous Riding Comedian." Condition: A-. Paper remnants at lower edge from date tag removal, else bright and colorful. The Cristianis were a famous family of bareback performers. Lucio was advertised as being the only person who could somersault from one horse to another, but this was circus hype and not true--Poodles Hanneford had done this and more years earlier. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2005		Cole Bros. Circus. [c. 1942-45], 28 x 21 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA Featuring wild animal trainer Clyde Beatty surrounded by a cage full of "black-maned man eating lions and Siberian tigers." Small inset portraits of the Cole Brothers are at upper left. Condition: A-. Two tiny tears at fold intersections and a few small edge tears. The legendary Clyde Beatty began to be featured with Cole Bros. Circus in 1935. Beatty operated his own circus from 1941-42 and 1945-58. In 1958, Cole Bros. Circus would permanently join forces with Clyde Beatty to form the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus, which is still in existence today, although Beatty died in 1965. Estimated Value $350 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $201
Lot 2006		Cole Bros. Circus. [said to be 1947], 21 x 28 in. Lithograph. Featuring "Miss Cristiani" and her horse. The Cristiani family was world-renowned for their daring bareback riding. Condition: A-. Minor paper remnants in lower border from date tag removal. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2007		Cole Bros. Circus. [1948], 28 x 42 in. Photo offset. Featuring ten members of "The Famous Cristiani Family Of Bareback Riding Marvels." Date tag for Anniston is attached. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. One small scrape at right side. Estimated Value $350 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2008		Cole Bros. Circus. [1942], 21 x 28 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co. Featuring "Direct From England 'Boxing Horses' First Time in America." The horses wear boxing trunks on their hindquarters and have boxing gloves on their front legs. They are coached by clowns. With Grand Island date tag. Condition: A-. A couple of tiny pinholes at fold intersections. Nice eye appeal. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $144
Lot 2009		Cole Bros. Circus. [1942], 28 x 42 in. Silkscreen. Featuring the "World's Largest Chimpanzee, Tarzan's Chum." Date tag is attached, Lake Charles having been pasted on top of the original city. Condition: A-; a couple of tiny fold tears and a tear at lower edge of date tag. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $138
Lot 2010		Cole Bros. Circus. [said to be 1949], 21 x 28 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg Div. U.S. Ptg & Litho Co. Featuring "Boxing Horses," wearing boxing trunks on their hindquarters and boxing gloves on their front legs; clowns serve as their managers. Advertised as "Something New! Direct From England…First Time In America." Condition: A-. A couple of tiny margin tears; minor paper remants at lower edge from removal of date tag. An identical poster has the date "1942" on the verso (see #4594), so the truth is probably being stretched quite a bit--not unusual for a circus--by claiming "First Time in America." A vivid and unusual image. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $144
Lot 2011		Cole Bros. Circus. [said to be 1942], 20½ x 28 in. Photo offset. Featuring Lee Rose McAdams, "One of the Many Five Gaited Cole Bros. Champions." With date tag for Grand Island. Condition: A-. A couple of small edge tears, not affecting the image. Estimated Value $150 - 250. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2012		Cole Bros. Circus. [1942], 14 x 41 in. streamer. Lithograph. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co. Featuring "Jean Allen World's Greatest Lady Elephant Trainer." Condition: B. There is a closed 3½ inch tear in the legend, not affecting the image, which has one tiny pinhole at a fold intersection. A partial date tag at lower edge has lifted some of the lower blue border. Estimated Value $125 - 175. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2013		Cole Bros. World's Greatest Circus. [c. 1920s], 28 x 20½ in. Lithograph. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring a menagerie of animals being viewed in their cages and pens by spectators prior to the start of the show. Circus-goers were often given an hour before the show to view the animals. Small portraits of the Cole Bros. are inset at upper left. Condition: A-; two tears, one at left edge and one at lower edge, barely reach into the background; also, a couple of small fold tears, and a few small edge tears and chips. A great circus image. Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2014		Famous Geo. W. Cole Circus. [between 1954-65], 28 x 42 in. Silkscreen. Neal Walters Poster Corp., Eureka Springs, Ark. Featuring high-wire and bareback performers, as well as a clown and a parade. Condition: C+. One 6½ in. closed tear at top center, 2 in. and 1 in. tears at left edge, a couple of tiny fold tears, and tape remnants on verso of top corners. The same images used on this poster are found on a "Famous Cole Circus" poster. Estimated Value $150 - 200. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2015		Famous Cole Circus. [1954-65], 28 x 42 in. Silkscreen. Neal Walters Poster Corp. Eureka Springs, Ark. Featuring high wire and bareback performers, a clown, and a parade. Condition: A-. Small holes at fold intersections, and a few tape remnants on verso. The circus was in business 1954-65 and 1988 to the present. Estimated Value $150 - 200. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2016		The Famous Geo. W. Cole Circus. [either 1955 or 1960], 41½ x 27 in. Silkscreen. Featuring two elephants and two clowns, and announcing a "Wild Animal Circus" and a "Giant Menagerie" on the attached date tag for Rochester. Condition: B. A few tears at fold intersections and paper loss at upper right corner. Arthur Bros. Circus used this same image around 1944. Estimated Value $125 - 175. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2017		Cole Circus Bros. [c. 1937], 28 x 41 in. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring "Clyde Beatty Greatest Wild Animal Trainer Of All Time." Beatty is shown with whip and chair, holding off a snarling lion and tiger; a gun is visible at his back. Small inset portraits of the Cole Bros. are at upper left. Beatty worked for various circuses, including Ringling Bros. and Cole Bros., and operated his own circus 1941-42 and 1945-58. In 1959, he teamed with Cole Bros. to form Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros Circus. The circus is still in operation today, although Beatty himself died in 1965. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $253
Lot 2018		James M. Cole. [probably 1956], 28 x 21 in. Silkscreen. Featuring a large, snarling tiger. Date tag for Woonsocket is attached. Condition: B. Some creasing; a couple of tears in upper left corner and one in the "O" in "Cole"; also, one small tape remnant in right border. Preserved with shrink wrap, on board. Estimated Value $125 - 175. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2019		Dailey Bros Big Railroad Circus And Menagerie. [1947], 13½ x 40 in. Streamer. Photo offset. A beautiful woman wearing butterfly wings rides an elephant, led by a clown and a man in a turban. With date tag for Marysville. Condition: A. Dailey Bros operated intermittently from 1940-75. Rich, vivid colors; great eye appeal. This same image was used by Hagen Bros. in the 1950s. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2020		Dailey Bros. 3 Ring Circus. [1947], 28 x 42 in. Photo offset. Central Show Prtg. Co., Inc., Mason City, Ia. Featuring Norma Davenport, "World's Youngest Elephant Trainer," and her elephant act. With Marysville date tag. Condition: B+. Small tears at fold intersections, one forming a small hole in the "C" in "Circus." Dailey Bros. Circus operated intermittently from 1940 to 1975. Estimated Value $350 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2021		Dailey Bros. 5 Ring Circus. [c. 1950], 42 x 28 in. Photo offset. Central Show Prtg. Co. Inc. Mason City, Ia. Featuring "Little Norma Davenport, World's Youngest Elephant Trainer," and six of her elephants. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2022		Dailey Bros. Big 5 Ring Railroad Circus. [1947], 28 x 22 in. Central Show Prtg. Co, Mason City, Ia. A woman dressed in red drives two running tigers as she stands astride them. Condition: B. A couple of small holes at intersections, small edge tears, and minor paper remnants at lower edge, where date tag was removed. Dailey Bros. operated intermittently from 1940 to 1975. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2023		Dailey Bros. Circus. [c. 1938], 13½ x 41 in. Streamer. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg Co., Erie, PA. Featuring a lady wild animal trainer. The poster has been reconstructed by pasting a Dailey Bros. name tag over the original Downie Bros. name. Condition: A-. A couple of paper remnants on verso of top and bottom; blank lower right corner of name tag is missing. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2024		Dailey Bros. Circus. [1945], 22 x 42 in. Lithograph. Central Show Printing Co. Mason City, Iowa. Freaturing female aerial performers. The poster is reconstructed, a new name tag having been added; "4 Ring Circus" was not covered by the new tag, creating confusion as to whether Dailey's was a 3-ring or 4-ring circus. At the lower left edge of the poster, a new general promotion for the aerialists ("Breath-Taking Spins in Mid-Air…") covers the earlier promotion for a single unnamed aerialist (Thressa Morales, sensation of two continents), who is pictured. With date tag for Decatur. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2025		Dailey Bros. Circus. [c. 1938], 13½ x 41 in. streamer. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg Co., Erie, PA. Featuring "Mlle. La Vaux Premier Parisian Equestrienne." The poster has been reconstructed by pasting a Dailey Bros. name tag over the original Downie Bros. name. Condition: A-. A couple of paper remnants on top verso and a couple of margin chips; one small area of paper loss in left border. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2026		Downie Bros. 3 Big Ring Circus. [probably 1937], 28 x 21 in. Lithograph. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co. Erie, PA. Featuring "'Teddy' Famous Hippodrome Elephant," along with 14 other elephants and the women who performed with them. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. With date tag for Camden. Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2027		Downie Bros. Big 3 Ring Circus. [1936], 41 x 28 in. Lithograph. Featuring a large clown head and ruffled collar. Condition: Professionally restored to a A-. Bright and colorful. Estimated Value $350 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $253
Lot 2028		Downie Bros. Circus. [probably 1937], 13½ x 41 in. Streamer. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co., Erie, PA. Featuring a lady animal trainer and her big cats. With Camden date tag. Condition: Professionally restored to A-. This same image was used by Dailey Bros. in 1938. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $138
Lot 2029		Downie Bros. Circus. [probably 1937], 14 x 41 in. Streamer. Photo offset. Erie Litho & Ptg. Co. Erie, PA. Featuring "Mlle. La Vaux Premier Parisian Equestrienne." Date tag for Camden is attached. Condition: A-. Minor edge tears which could be covered by framing. This same image of Mlle. La Vaux was used by Dailey Bros. in 1938. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold

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