Potter and Potter Auctions: The Zweifel Circus Collection

Circus Big Top Motorized Diorama. Detailed and finely crafted model of a three-ring circus big top created in exacting detail and including the canvas tent, and filled with performers both human and animal in the center of each ring as well as above them,

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Combined with Pawnee Bill’s Far East / The Battle of Summit Springs. Cincinnati & New York: Russell & Morgan, 1910.

Seils-Sterling 4-Ring Circus / [Polar Bears]. Milwaukee: Riverside Printing Co., ca. 1930s.

[WIZARD OF OZ]. MGM Pictures Engagement Pass issued to Col. Casper, a Munchkin actor in The Wizard of Oz. Culver City, CA: 1938.

Tattooed Man Interactive Circus Display. “Peep show”-like display in which a participant, looking through an inset gilded frame sees himself or herself as a tattooed man with two snarling serpents coiled around his body. A mirror installed where the tatto

Annie Oakley Museum Display including Rifle, Jacket, and Hat. Three items from the John and Jan Zweifel collection displayed as an Annie Oakley performing rifle and outfit, including an Andrew Wurfflein (Philadelphia) rifle, serial #1328; a John B. Stetso

Circus Sideshow Motorized Diorama. Miniature circus sideshow tent diorama including motorized elements, being a finely crafted model of a circus sideshow, circa 1920, and including the various banners, platforms, ticket box with outside talker, and other

Ringling Brothers Circus Street Parade Motorized Diorama. Remarkable and detailed motorized diorama featuring twenty-six carved models of circus wagons, performers, and animals recreated in miniature, all moving on a long snake-like winding track, recreat

Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Giant Tiger Sculpture. 1960s.

Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth / Three Stupendously Magnificent Melodious Parade Features Included in the Many Different Kinds of Music. Cincinnati/New York/London: The Strobridge Litho Co, ca. 1890s.

Model Circus Parade Wagon. Circa 1940.

Sells-Floto / Miss Arline and Kiddo Balloon Horse Poster Maquette. Circa 1930s.

[R.B.B.B.—GARGANTUA]. Collection of Gargantua and circus gorilla photographs and ephemera. Approximately 50 pieces, including photographs (generally 8 x 10”) of Gargantua and Toto (“Mrs. Gargantua”); a R.B.B.B. Christmas card (1947) with Gargantua feature

BAILEY, Bill. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey / World’s Biggest Menagerie. 1944.

Trio of Circus Funhouse Mirrors. Trio of mirrors used in the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago Circus exhibit for approximately fifty years; the distorted surfaces give the viewer a likewise distorted view of themselves. In heavy decorative gilded or

CODY, William F. (BUFFALO BILL) (1846-1917). Buffalo Bill at the Bowery Theatre. New York: Richardson & Foos, (1876).

Al Ringling’s Double Specialty Show. Chicago: National Printing Co., ca. 1881.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey / Herd of the Smallest Pigmy Elephants. Erie: Erie Litho, ca. 1936.

ARMSTRONG, Dale. Life of Barney Nelson, The Armless Phenomenon. New York: Popular Pub Co., ca. 1883.

Five Clowns Interactive Circus Display. Bright freestanding photo op/museum display in the form of five life-size costumed circus clowns, with two heads cut away, allowing a participant to insert his or her head into the scene.

Tom Thumb’s Dress Shirts. Mid-nineteenth century. Two finely made miniature night shirts reportedly owned by Tom Thumb (Charles S. Stratton) and handed down to Mrs. Tom Thumb’s family. Accompanied by 1952 booklet by Mr. Benjamin Bump “The Story that Never

[TATTOO]. Prof. J.S. Fraser Boston Expert Electric Tattooing business card. Boston, [ca. early 20th century]. Printed cardstock, illustrated with samples of the tattooist’s work and listing an address at 148 Court St, Room 1, opposite Bowdoin Sq. Theatre.

Circus Menagerie Motorized Diorama. Scale model of a circus menagerie tent, featuring dozens of animals that made up the spectacle of a three-ring circus at the dawn of the twentieth century, and including elephants, zebras, four giraffes, two moose, and

Model Circus Tent Diorama. Finely crafted overview of a circus lot, featuring the various tents used to stage a three-ring circus, and including the Big Top, annex, and other tents used to house and feed the circus acts and employees, as well as other dis

[CIRCUS]. Lot of 13 American circus photographs. V.d. (bulk mid-20th century). Photographs of circuses and circus performers, including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, children at the circus, Charles Bell (clown), trapeze artists, and circus elephants