Ephemera

Ephemera
(singular: ephemeron) 
               is any transitory written or printed matter not meant to be retained or preserved.

In the field of freak collecting, ephemera consists of, 
but is not restricted to, broadsides, handbills, tickets and cards 
to name just a few. Below are a few examples from my collection.

Membership & Calling Cards

 Commodore Nutt's Naiad Temple ID Card

General Tom Thumb's calling cards

The largest shown here is 30mm x 17mm.

Countess Lavania Magri's Calling Card

(Mrs. General Tom Thumb)

Calling Card of P. T. Barnum

Calling Card of Johnny Morris, Jr.

real name Albert Altieri

Sheet Music

 Front Cover of John Hansen Craig Songbook

Back Cover of John Hanson Craig Songbook

A Song for The Wild Men of Borneo

Souvenir Handbill

A souvenir of Turtle George Williams

Engravings

 Prior to the photographic era, people who exhibited themselves sold engravings.

 Dolly Dutton, Midget

Prior to the popular photographic era, human oddities often sold engravings of themselves. 

This one dates to 1860 and sold for twenty-five cents.

 Henry Blacker, The British Giant
Published by H. Carpenter, London, 1761

William Bradley, The Yorkshire Giant
Etched by Freeman, Published by Bradley & Gibson, London May 8, 1811

Monsieur Louis, The French Giant
Etched by Richard Dighton, Published by G. Humphrey, London, Jan 15, 1822

Maximilion Christopher Miller, The Saxon Giant

Etched and printed by M.C. Miller & J. Clark, London, 1733

Trade & Ad Cards

 Giacomo and Giovanni Battista Tocci

advertizing card

Millie Christine McCoy

small advertizing card

Trade card advertizing the Liliputian (sic) Opera Company's production of
"Jack the Giant Killer"

Advertizing card for 
Lucia Zarate & Major Atom


Broadsides

Stationary

Dolly Dutton, Midget

This letter is from Dolly's manager to a prospective exhibition venue.

Film Related

Freaks lobby card with rare Nature's Mistakes title

Napkin

This rare lunch counter napkin advertized 
the Hilton Sisters appearance

Please come back, much more to come as time permits.