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 illustrated with images of their appearance before royalty on one of their European tours, and of their wedding in 1863.

This card is shaped like an artist's palette as a novelty, and is illustrated with an image of Zoe Meleke and her performing canaries. Zoe Meleke had earlier been engaged by P.T. Barnum at his American Museum as a 'Circassian' beauty. She was in fact American, her lack of speaking any 'Circassian' language explained by Barnum by saying she had left her native country at a very tender age. She appeared on the tour along with Tom Thumb, his wife Lavinia, 'Major' Edward Newell the skater on 'parlor skates', J. H. Whiston the 'humourist and facial artist', and James W. Bingham the ventriloquist.