Ringling Brothers: Only Giraffe Known to Exist
Maker
Courier Co.
(American, 19th century)
Date1901
MediumInk on paper
Dimensions1/2 sheet (V): 28 1/4 x 20 1/2 in. (71.8 x 52.1 cm)
ClassificationsPosters
Credit LineTibbals Circus Collection
Object numberht2001289
First arriving in America in 1837/8, giraffes became a staple feature of the traveling circuses by the 1880s: a fact that might not be readily evident by this poster.
It is one of the most controversial posters produced by the Ringling Show. Not only is it a wonderful example of extravagant claims made by circus promoters to draw crowds to the show, but it also represents an instance of deceptive advertising used by the Ringlings. While it was the only giraffe in the Ringling “tremendous, triple menagerie,” it was certainly not “the last of his kind.” Immediately criticized by the competitors of the Ringling Circus, the poster was quickly withdrawn from display and destroyed. Only three posters are known to exist documenting this extravagant claim made by the Ringling brothers in 1893 and, again, 1901.
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