Collecting trade cards was a popular hobby in the late 19th Century, and although it wasn’t the primary method of advertising, circuses did respond to the craze by issuing a number of fine cards to promote their shows. This particular card was printed by the Courier Litho Company of Buffalo, New York for “The Great Adam Forepaugh Show” about 1884.
The same rich design may have also been used on a circus poster created by Courier for Forepaugh – though it is believed that this exact design no longer exists as a large format lithograph. -Chris Berry