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Potter and Potter Auctions: Circus, Sideshow and Oddities

Auction Reports

Auction Name Circus, Sideshow and Oddities Total Sales (USD) 240,792.00
Auction Date April 30, 2022 - April 30, 2022 Low Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 118,685.00
Sale Number #1132 High Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 197,110.00
Total Lots 502
Sold Lots 493.0 Low Estimate of All Lots (USD) 121,975.00
% of Lots Sold 98.21% High Estimate of All Lots (USD) 202,910.00
Unsold Lots 9 Total Sales as a % of High Est. 118.67%

Top twenty-five by sale price

Lot Number Author Name Book Title Year Published Estimate Actual Price
368

La Femme Araignée / Cirque Daniellis.

ca. 1937 USD 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 USD 13,750.00
36

A scrapbook of circus dancers and “side show girls” snapshots and photographs.

Circa 1930s/40s. USD 600.00 - 900.00 USD 6,875.00
612

[CRIME & POLICE—NEW JERSEY]. Crime scrapbooks with shocking murder and crime scene photographs of a New Jersey state trooper.

bulk mid-1920s-30s). USD 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD 5,040.00
611

Unusual photograph archive of Florence Reed, “The Perfect Prisoner,” modeling a collection of handcuffs, restraints, and military devices.

1960s (principally 1967/8). USD 700.00 - 900.00 USD 4,250.00
188

Barnum & Bailey Circus / 108 Cage Zoo.

1916 USD 800.00 - 1,200.00 USD 3,750.00
189

Barnum & Bailey Circus / Giant Rhinoceros.

1909 USD 800.00 - 1,200.00 USD 2,750.00
540

Tales of Magic and Mystery.

1927-8. USD 900.00 - 1,400.00 USD 2,640.00
149 [SIDESHOW & ODDITIES].

Archive of Bernard Kobel sideshow, tattooed people, and human oddity photographs, with related ephemera.

USD 700.00 - 900.00 USD 2,640.00
194

Sells Brothers Enormous United Shows / The Great Costellos.

1895 USD 1,200.00 - 2,400.00 USD 2,500.00
81

Sixth plate ambrotype of a clown.

Circa 1860s. USD 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 USD 2,280.00
201

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus / Europe’s Greatest Trained Animals.

ca. 1920s. USD 600.00 - 800.00 USD 2,250.00
179 VAVASSEUR, Lil’ Al.

Archive of 100 portrait photographs of wrestlers.

ca. 1970s. USD 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 USD 2,160.00
86

Six tintypes of circus and theatrical performers.

Circa 1860s/70s. USD 300.00 - 500.00 USD 2,040.00
190

Ringling Bros. Circus / World’s Biggest Menagerie.

1916 USD 800.00 - 1,200.00 USD 2,000.00
567

[BARNUM & BAILEY]. Group of 13 circus couriers.

Circa 1900s/10s. USD 300.00 - 500.00 USD 1,875.00
568

[BARNUM & BAILEY]. Group of 12 circus spectacle couriers.

Circa 1900s/10s. USD 400.00 - 600.00 USD 1,875.00
450 BAILEY, Bill.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus / [Lion and Tiger]. Billboard poster,

USD 500.00 - 1,000.00 USD 1,875.00
543 CINQUEVALLI, Paul.

Cinquevalli The Marvel of the Century! Liverpool: S.

1897 USD 250.00 - 500.00 USD 1,875.00
143

Collection of Vintage Juggling Photographs, Some Signed.

USD 600.00 - 900.00 USD 1,680.00
571

[RINGLING BROS. CIRCUS]. Group of 10 programs and couriers.

Circa 1900s/10s. USD 300.00 - 500.00 USD 1,625.00
572

[RINGLING BROS. CIRCUS]. Group of 9 spectacle programs and couriers.

Circa 1900s/10s. USD 300.00 - 500.00 USD 1,625.00
115

Cabinet photo of a ventriloquist.

Circa 1900s. USD 150.00 - 250.00 USD 1,560.00
177 FOX, Johnny (1953-2017).

Archive of carnival, sideshow, and oddity photograph negatives.

ca. 2001/02. USD 400.00 - 600.00 USD 1,500.00
364 GEORGE, Grover.

George / Supreme Master of Magic. Billboard Poster.

ca. 1922 USD 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD 1,500.00
214

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus / Polar Bear.

ca. 1930s. USD 250.00 - 500.00 USD 1,440.00
  • <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000. <b>Bonhams, Dec. 8-18:</b> Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
    Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
  • <center><b>Sotheby’s<br>Book Week<br>December 9-17, 2025</b></center> <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 17:</b> Francesco Colonna. <i>Hypnerotomachie,</i> Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 17:</b> Nausea. <i>De principiis dialectices Gorgias,</i> and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 17:</b> Billon. <i>Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur,</i> Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000. <center><b>Sotheby’s<br>Book Week<br>December 9-17, 2025</b></center> <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000. <b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
  • <b><center>Heritage Auctions<br>Rare Books Signature Auction<br>December 15, 2025</center></b> <b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633. <b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> Edgar Rice Burroughs. <i>Tarzan of the Apes.</i> <b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> F. Scott Fitzgerald. <i>Tender is the Night. A Romance.</i> <b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> Bram Stoker. <i>Dracula.</i> Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co., 1897. <b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> Jerry Thomas. <i>How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…</i>
    Heritage Auctions
    Rare Books Signature Auction
    December 15, 2025
    Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
    Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
    Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
    Heritage, Dec. 15: Bram Stoker. Dracula. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co., 1897.
    Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
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