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[ca. late 1880s]. Broadside, 10 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. Two neat vertical folds and one neat horizontal fold. Light contemporary pencil note ("What prizes & railroad facilities?") in lower margin. Half-inch closed tear in horizontal fold, not affecting text, else fine. Unrecorded broadside advertisement of agent M. J. Finn of Natick, Massachusetts, for a great variety of outdoor entertainments available for hire to fairs and other exhibitions. The broadside most significantly features T. S. Baldwin and his "GRAND BALLOON ASCENSION AND JUMP FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 5000 FEET." Baldwin (1860-1923), a U.S. Army Major and pioneering aeronautical performer and engineer, designed and operated parachutes, balloons, and airplanes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, creating the famous "California Arrow" dirigible, which was exhibited at the 1904 St. Louis World s Fair, and numerous other flying machines, used variously for entertainment, military, and navigational purposes. Also advertised in this broadside are "Jeakles Wonderful Hippodrome Chariot Races," Miss Loui Cassini, "Champion Lady Equestrienne," "Finn s Running Dogs," "Mlle. Carlotta, Lady Aeronaut" (i.e., Mary Hawley Myers, an important figure in her own right, who performed throughout the 1880s), a "Mounted Sword Contest," "Abdallah Ben Said s Troupe of Bedouin Arabs," "Rowing Tricycle Races," Mlle. Maretta Meyers, "wire walker, globe runner, juggler, slide for life by the hair and teeth," and a variety of other unusual performers. A very early and extremely rare Baldwin ephemeron, in remarkably good condition. Seller Inventory # 141
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