A graphic poster with two elephants and a dancing woman, spotlit on a dark blue-black background, advertising the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus. At center is a pair of light brown-grey elephants dancing on their hind legs, wearing pink ballet tutus, narrow pink collars, and tiny pink hats with stars. A beam of bright yellow spotlight, spangled with white and yellow stars, shines down on them from upper left. The elephants cast a dark shadow on their white stage floor, represented as a flat, angled shape receding into space. At right is a round podium in red, white, and blue, emblazoned with 'BUY DEFENSE BONDS' in dark letters. A dancer in a fluffy, starry blue and white costume stands atop the podium with arms raised overhead. Her limbs and face are suggested with pink highlights; the rest of her body is the same dark color as the background. 'THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH' runs across the top in large white, yellow, and blue letters. The text continues below and to the right, in smaller tan letters: 'PRESENTS ITS / 50 / FAMOUS ELEPHANTS / WITH BEAUTIFUL GIRLS'. '50' is much larger than the other words. In the lower left corner, printed in small white letters and angled toward the upper right: 'IN AN ORIGINAL BALLET'; 'COMPOSED BY IGOR STRAVINSKY / STAGED BY GEORGE BALANCHINE' is printed below in small tan letters. 'RINGLING BROS AND BARNUM & BAILEY' runs along the bottom edge of the poster in medium-sized yellow and blue letters.

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Object Timeline

1942	Work on this object began.
1963	We acquired this object.
2013	We photographed this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2024	You found it!

Poster, The Greatest Show on Earth

This is a Poster. It was designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer and made for (as the client) Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. It is dated 1942 and we acquired it in 1963. Its medium is lithograph on white wove paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This object was donated by Mrs. Edward McKnight Kauffer. It is credited Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.

Its dimensions are

48.9 × 70.6 cm (19 1/4 × 27 13/16 in.)

It is signed

Printed in script, in blue ink, center right: [abstract symbol] / E McKnight Kauffer

It is inscribed

Printed in black ink, lower left: LITHO. IN U.S.A.

Cite this object as

Poster, The Greatest Show on Earth; Designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, active England, 1890–1954); Client: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey; USA; lithograph on white wove paper; 48.9 × 70.6 cm (19 1/4 × 27 13/16 in.); Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer; 1963-39-115-b

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2CxEF/
Accession Number 1963-39-115-b
Object ID 18447055