“Owner Bills” such as this were often used by circuses in the late 1800s and early 1900s to instill trust in products, much in the same way that the Smith Bros and patent medicines put portraits on boxes of cough drops and over the counter remedies.

The theory was that If the owner of the show was willing to put his image on the advertising the product was worthwhile and could be trusted. This was particularly important for itinerant advertisers such as showmen who were not personally known to the local residents and the local business community.

When this particular lithograph was produced in 1897, PT Barnum had already been dead for six years, but he was still very well known throughout the United States – and his image was well-known on advertising that preceded the arrival of the circus.

This particular artwork was taken that same year that it was created to England and was used on the souvenir programs when “The Greatest Show on Earth” appeared at London’s Olympia arena that winter.

Portraits of the pair were also used on advertising throughout the European tour which continued into Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and other countries before wrapping up in 1902.

After the Ringling brothers purchased Barnum & Bailey in 1907 a horizontal version of this poster was also created by Strobridge. That version appeared in two varieties, first with Bailey on the left, and Barnum on the right, and later with the two portraits flipped. The second variation continued to be used through the 1918 season.

Over the years there were other “owner bills“ produced for Barnum and Bailey, but this classic “upright” image is the one seen most often.

This poster was also reproduced by Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey in the 1970s and that reprint was sold by the thousands at performances and by mail order, but this is the original.

-C. Berry