Circus, Sideshow & Oddities

BARNUM, Phineas Taylor. Autograph Letter Signed, re: His “Sacred Elephant.” Bridgeport, CT: Jan. 8, 1884. On a sheet (10 x 6”) of Barnum’s engraved Barnum, Bailey, and Hutchinson letterhead, to Bertie (Bertrand Smith), thanking him for a Christmas card and relating that “before this reaches you, I expect my Sacred Elephant will have arrived at Liverpool from Burmah,” and continues, “This year our show will be larger than ever.” With the original engraved mailing envelope addressed in Barnum’s hand to Smith in Bury, Lancashire. This letter refers to Toung Taloung, the “Sacred White Elephant of Burma” which Barnum acquired from King Thibaw of Burma at the enormous cost of $250,000. Barnum hoped to replicate the success and popularity of his giant African elephant Jumbo, but the so-called “white elephant” did not impress the public or the press, who observed the elephant’s skin was really a grayish, mottled color.