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Auction: SW1008 - Bonds and Share Certificates of the World
Lot: 452

Barnum & Bailey Ltd. 100 shares of £1 each, 21. June 1904. Nr. 13329. P. T. Barnum (1810-1891) and J. A. Bailey (1847-1906) combined their shows and established Barnum and Bailey's Circus in 1881. Between 1897 and 1902 the circus toured in Europe. The Barnum & Bailey Ltd Company was formed in England in 1899 at the start of this European Tour. The circus was the largest in the world at the time, operating 3 rings instead of the European norm of only one (the origin of the term "a three ring circus" - American for "a lot of noisy or confused activity"). A huge logistical task was moving the circus from town to town and for this a special 60 coach train was used. The circus was sold to Ringling Brothers in 1906. The two circus operated independantly until 1919. Then they were joined to form the “Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus". Early certificate of this important circus. In the center pictures of the two founders. The Company stamp shows the famous inscription "The Greatest Show on Earth". EF.

Sold for
SFr650