23 Letters to P. T. Barnum ; A phenomenal collection of letters written to Phineas Taylor (P. T.) Barnum of showman and circus fame. Letters relate to asking for money/charity (many with a religious bent and some connected to deaths), often with a sense of desperation, or offering oddities and/or services for Barnum's shows. Several letters are marked in pencil with comments such as "begging," perhaps by Barnum or another staff member. In these letters, Barnum is also offered a horse with tightly curled hair (to be had at a cheap price), a "half breed Jersey calf" with two extra legs hanging from its neck, petrified trees "20 to 40 feet long," a "very small" little sister, and much more. The letters are preserved in a black portfolio binder that measures 12 3/4"h x 13 1/2"w.