Major Newell with Genl. Tom Thumb's Museum
Print
1882 (Printed)
1882 (Printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of a set of chromolithograph cards produced by Ballin & Liebler in 1882 advertising a tour managed by H.R. Jacobs of a Variety Company starring 'General' Tom Thumb (1838-1883) and his wife Lavinia (1842-1919). The New York lithographic company Ballin & Liebler issued two other sets of advertising cards related to General Tom Thumb and his wife; one illustrated with images of their appearance before royalty on one of their European tours, the other of their wedding in 1863.
This card is shaped like an artist's palette as a novelty, and is illustrated with four images of 'Major' Edward Newell, one of the performers on Tom Thumb's company's 1882 tour, along with Zoe Meleke and her performing canaries, Whiston the 'humourist and facial artist' and Bingham the ventriloquist.
Dubbed the 'Skatorial Champion' because of his dancing on 'parlor skates' or early in-line roller skates, Newell was engaged by P.T. Barnum at his American Museum for several years as General Grant Jnr. before joining Tom Thumb's troupe for the 1874 tour. In July 1877 he married Tom Thumb's sister in law, Minnie Warren, who also appeared with the troupe.
This card is shaped like an artist's palette as a novelty, and is illustrated with four images of 'Major' Edward Newell, one of the performers on Tom Thumb's company's 1882 tour, along with Zoe Meleke and her performing canaries, Whiston the 'humourist and facial artist' and Bingham the ventriloquist.
Dubbed the 'Skatorial Champion' because of his dancing on 'parlor skates' or early in-line roller skates, Newell was engaged by P.T. Barnum at his American Museum for several years as General Grant Jnr. before joining Tom Thumb's troupe for the 1874 tour. In July 1877 he married Tom Thumb's sister in law, Minnie Warren, who also appeared with the troupe.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Major Newell with Genl. Tom Thumb's Museum (published title) |
| Materials and techniques | Printing ink on card |
| Brief description | Trade card illustrated with an image of the 'skatorial' champion 'Major' Edward Newell, advertising Tom Thumb and his troupe appearing at the Horticultural Hall, 25th September to 7th October 1882. Colour lithograph by Ballin & Liebler, New York |
| Physical description | Advertising trade card in the shape of an artist's palette illustrated with four images of 'Major' Edward Newell skating and dancing (recto) and printed in blue ink (verso) with details of the appearance of General Tom Thumb, his wife and Company at the Horticultural Hall. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | This is one of a series of trade cards printed by Ballin & Liebler to advertise the tour of Tom Thumb, his wife Lavinia and their Variety troupe in the autumn of 1882, including the skater Edward Newell, Zoe Meleke and her performing canaries, the impressionist J. H. Whiston, and the ventriloquist James W. Bingham. Six cards were printed in this set, illustrating the different acts on the tour. |
| Associations | |
| Summary | This is one of a set of chromolithograph cards produced by Ballin & Liebler in 1882 advertising a tour managed by H.R. Jacobs of a Variety Company starring 'General' Tom Thumb (1838-1883) and his wife Lavinia (1842-1919). The New York lithographic company Ballin & Liebler issued two other sets of advertising cards related to General Tom Thumb and his wife; one illustrated with images of their appearance before royalty on one of their European tours, the other of their wedding in 1863. This card is shaped like an artist's palette as a novelty, and is illustrated with four images of 'Major' Edward Newell, one of the performers on Tom Thumb's company's 1882 tour, along with Zoe Meleke and her performing canaries, Whiston the 'humourist and facial artist' and Bingham the ventriloquist. Dubbed the 'Skatorial Champion' because of his dancing on 'parlor skates' or early in-line roller skates, Newell was engaged by P.T. Barnum at his American Museum for several years as General Grant Jnr. before joining Tom Thumb's troupe for the 1874 tour. In July 1877 he married Tom Thumb's sister in law, Minnie Warren, who also appeared with the troupe. |
| Associated objects |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.254-2018 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | October 18, 2018 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
