Genl. Tom Thumb and his Charming Wife as they Appeared before the Crowned Heads of Europe thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Genl. Tom Thumb and his Charming Wife as they Appeared before the Crowned Heads of Europe

Trade Card
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, or Charles Stratton (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 wedding in 1863, and another with images of their appearances on their 1864 European tour.

This card is shaped like an artist's palette as a novelty, and illustrated with an image of Tom Thumb and his wife Lavinia standing on a table in front of five members of European royalty including Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra on their 1864 European tour. Stratton and his wife Lavinia appeared on the 1882 tour along with 'Major' Edward Newell, the skater on 'parlor skates', Zoe Meleke and her performing canaries, J. H. Whiston the 'humourist and facial artist' and James W. Bingham the ventriloquist.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGenl. Tom Thumb and his Charming Wife as they Appeared before the Crowned Heads of Europe (published title)
Materials and techniques
Printing ink on card
Brief description
Trade card illustrated with an image of 'General' Tom Thumb and his wife standing on a tabletop in front of five figures of European Royalty. Advertising Tom Thumb and his troupe appearing at the City Hall, on the 9th, 10th and 11th November 1882. Colour lithograph printed by Ballin & Liebler, New York
Physical description
Advertising trade card in the shape of an artist's palette illustrated with an image of Tom Thumb and his wife standing on a tabletop surrounded by 5 figures of European royalty (recto) and printed in blue ink (verso) with details of General Tom Thumb, his wife and Company's appearance at the Academy of Music.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.5cm (Note: maximum height)
  • Width: 7.8cm (Note: maximum width)
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, or Charles Stratton (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 wedding in 1863, and another with images of their appearances on their 1864 European tour.

This card is shaped like an artist's palette as a novelty, and illustrated with an image of Tom Thumb and his wife Lavinia standing on a table in front of five members of European royalty including Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra on their 1864 European tour. Stratton and his wife Lavinia appeared on the 1882 tour along with 'Major' Edward Newell, the skater on 'parlor skates', Zoe Meleke and her performing canaries, J. H. Whiston the 'humourist and facial artist' and James W. Bingham the ventriloquist.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.257-2018

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Record createdOctober 19, 2018
Record URL
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