{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1462318"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1462318/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LH7020/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LH7020/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019LH7020","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LH7019","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1462318","accessionNumber":"S.509-2018","objectType":"Playbill","titles":[{"title":"The Great United States Circus, Alhambra Palace","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"This playbill is undated but advertises one of many performances by Howes and Cushing's Great United States Circus at the Alhambra Palace in London's Leicester Square in 1858. Seth Howes (1815-1901) and Joseph Cushing (1818-1884) went into partnership in the United States in 1856 and sailed to Liverpool where they landed on 25 March 1857 with 72 horses, and 50 performers and assistants. The circus travelled throughout the country before opening at the Alhambra Palace where they gave a private performance for Queen Victoria and the royal family on 14 May 1858.\n\n \n\n\n\n","physicalDescription":"Portrait format letterpress playbill. On the left hand side, a woodcut of rearing horses with American and British flags, on the right hand side, a list of acts and performers.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Horner","id":"AUTH350317"},"association":{"text":"engraver","id":"AAT25167"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"J. W. Peel","id":"A19482"},"association":{"text":"printer","id":"x30811"},"note":"The printing details are given as 'printed by J.W. Peel's Steam Machine, 74 New Cut, Lambeth'. John Websdaile Peele operated his printing buisiness from 1823 to 1839 in the New Cut, Lambeth. When John Peel took over the business in 1839 he dropped the final 'e' from his and the firm's name."}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"letterpress","id":"AAT178926"},{"text":"woodcut","id":"AAT53296"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Woodcut and letterpress on paper","categories":[{"text":"Circus","id":"THES261738"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Woodcuts","id":"THES267451"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2019LH7020","2019LH7019"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CAGE","id":"THES49689"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Playbill","id":"AAT27216"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1858","earliest":"1858-01-01","latest":"1858-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.510-2018","id":"O1462352"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"Gabrielle Enthoven Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"37.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"46.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The acts presented were a <i>Grand Spanish Cavalcade </i>by four ladies and eight gentlemen; Miss Emma Madigan in a <i>Juvenile Act of Equestrianism</i>; Lavater Lee and Family performing <i>Gambols upon the Running of the Globe</i>; a <i>Great Juvenile Act of Horsemanship</i> by Master James Madigan; Messrs. Murray and Holland as The Roman Brothers in <i>an Acrobatic and Gymnastic Display</i>; Messrs. Richards and Madigan - <i>Equestrianism on Two Horses</i>; The Educated Comic Mules Pete and Barney in their 'low comedy performances' introduced by Murray and Pentland; a <i>Grand Trial of Skill</i> by the Company; Miss Julia Tournaire 'the Sylph of the Arena' leaping over Banners and through balloons; 'The North American Indian' L. Rivers; Murray and Holland in their 'daring feat of Equilibria' <i>Globe La Perche</i>; Ella, 'the First Horsewoman in the world' in her <i>Original Act of Equestrianism</i>; the American-bred horse Black Eagle who 'seemingly understands every word spoken to him' introduced by John H. Murray; Mr. Davis Richards <i>The Wild Horseman of the Prairies</i> riding bareback over bars, gates and through balloons, and the ten<i> Tribe of Bedouin Arabs</i>.\n\nThe Equestrian Director was John H. Murray and the clowns were Joe Pentland, Jim Myers, Ferdinand and Footet.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Illustrated playbill featuring a woodcut image of rearing horses advertising The Great United States Circus at the Alhambra Palace, Leicester Square, 1858. Woodcut by Horner. Letterpress and woodcut printed by J.W. Peel.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.509-2018"],"accessionNumberNum":"509","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2018,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-02","recordCreationDate":"2018-10-09","availableToBook":false}}