This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/25/2023
[EQUESTRIAN] A Most Surprising Horse from Courland. [London], (1761). Early illustrated letterpress handbill/broadside with floral border, heralding the appearance of Mr. Grotean and his amazing equine companion, “the like has never been exhibited in this Kingdom before, he only wants speech…” A handsome wood engraving top shows the horse jumping through three hoops. 9 ¾ x 7 ¼”. Laid down. The animal advertised here, who “will perform … every day in the week, (Sundays excepted)” is capable of at least 14 miraculous human-like feats, as outlined on the bill, including playing dice for a bottle of wine and always winning, playing cards and discovering the location of a hidden pasteboard, understanding the alphabet, identifying the color of any person’s clothes, understanding arithmetic, and even draft dodging (“When commanded to go to the wars, he shams lame”). Courland was an independent Duchy now located in Latvia, and Mr. Zucker, whose name appears at the top of this bill later worked with Jonas, and presented magic, horses, and automata.