Barnum, Phineas Taylor

8 autograph letters signed ("P.T. Barnum"), 14 pages written, various sizes of 8vo and 4to, Bridgeport, Connecticut, and New York City, 10 December 1881–27 September 1890, to Edward Bok (1 to Henry Ward Beecher, 1 to Publisher Magazine), plus 1 signed photograph; formerly folded, 3 pages laid down, some light browning.

formerly folded, 3 pages laid down, some light browning.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

"But life is too short to permit an ever-busy man like me to write letters to strangers ... I cannot do it. The idea of a man in his 72d year to be called upon to write letters about nothing!" (10 December 1881).

The ever-persistent Edward Bok however won the day and the result is an amusing portrait of a large personality: (11 October 1882:) "By extraordinary & sometimes no doubt annoying persistence, persuasion & patience, supplemented with audacity, you have succeeded in obtaining a collection of autographs of which any person may be proud. Having accomplished so much at the age of nineteen, I almost envy you ... Meanwhile I sympathize with the sick, lame, halt, blind, aged and decrepid victims to whom you will give no rest till they surrender ... " (4 December 1884: a testimonial on the character of Dr. Thomas De Witt Talmage, a Brooklyn pastor, possibly intended for publication) ... (20 May 1885, to Henry Ward Beecher:) "I feel that you are devoting the latter end of your life to a subject which will revolutionize the old notions & confer a great blessing on the world. Newstands are rejoicing today that you are devoting your wonderful powers to the subject of Evolution. It will be a burning shame if some publisher does not see that your discourses are respected and published in full under your corrections. It will be the most popular book of the age."  (24 July 1885, to Publisher Magazine:) "Instead of sending me your magazine for the year ... I will thank you to send me enough of your January number to make up my full subscription ... The fact is I have already so many newspapers & magazines they cut me off from book-reading almost altogether, which I much regret. Whereas after seeing your Feb. Number I can use 8 or 10 of your Talmage number ... " (18 March 1887, agrees to write a profile of an unnamed pastor for Bok) ... (22 March 1887, declines permission to Bok to use his name in an unnamed book) ... (27 September 1890, on a photograph of Mrs. Barnum and a composition for Bok).