Group of Four Exceptional Circus and Sideshow Scrapbooks
(Rhode Island, 1880s-1930s)
Assembled by pioneering circus fan and collector William Purtill (1881-1950), Westerly, Rhode Island. Approximately 375 pages featuring hundreds of clippings from handbills, broadsides, newspapers, and other periodicals, including Billboard and National Police Gazette, for virtually every circus and Wild West show from the 1890s through the 1930s. Purtill also included clippings of articles and illustrations of hundreds of performers and circus personnel, including Buffalo Bill and various tattooed attractions. Several original photographs, postcards, business cards, letters and other printed items also included.
Largest: 14 1/2 x 12 x 2 in. (36.8 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm.)
Provenance: Ex-collection William N. Purtill, Westerly, Rhode Island

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