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Schoenhut Catalog Proofs

When Nelson Delavan obtained the rights to the Humpty Dumpty Circus name and designs, he received a number of catalog editor's proofs and photographs of circus layouts from which catalog illustrations were made. Schoenhut made illustrations from photographs probably because illustrations were easier to colorize. Color photography in the early 1900s was very cumbersome and the results were often not very satisfactory. Here are some of Delavan's package of images:

Catalog Proof Images and Original Photographs
Click on the thumbnails to see larger views.

These images are courtesy of the Seneca Falls, New York Historical Society
 JSAAnimal2ProofR900.jpg (348514 bytes) JSAAnimal1ProofR900.jpg (331535 bytes)
These are two of the proof layouts for the insert pages in the next cell.
JSAccessoriesLayoutCroppedR1000.jpg (427457 bytes)  JSActorsR1000.jpg (446182 bytes)  JSAnimalsLine1R1000.jpg (477503 bytes)  JSAnimalsLine2R1000.jpg (426958 bytes)
These color proofs show the layouts for inserts put into the 
Copyright 1904 Humpty Dumpty Circus catalogs.
 Judging by  the designs, these proofs were probably done in about 1909.

JSPhoto3ClownsEleDonkR955.jpg (408578 bytes)
This is the original photograph of a set.

JSPhoto3ClownsEleDonkIllustR1000.jpg (523525 bytes)
And this is the illustration
 from that photograph.

JSBFarmSetPhotoR900.jpg (478571 bytes)
This is a photograph of Farmer and Milkmaid No. 20/70.

JSBFarmSetDrawingR900.jpg (384525 bytes)
This illustration of set No. 20/70 can be found on
 page 14 of their Copyright 1918 catalog.

JSTentAcrobatstProofR1000.jpg (671617 bytes) JS1ClownCarriageR800.jpg (275854 bytes)
A series of photographs
 of a chariot with a clown 
JSBFarmBigGroupPhotoR1000.jpg (500336 bytes)
This is a photograph of set 20/71. Its illustration
 can be found on page 14 if their Copyright 1918 catalog.
JSTentLayoutEarlyR1000.jpg (717966 bytes)
In this photograph are seen a two-part-head ringmaster, a bisque lady rider, two-part-head clowns, and GE animals. The "Humpty Dumpty Circus" font on the top edge of the tent differs from that normally seen on production tents. The goat is the one with a white diamond pattern on his forehead.
JS1Catalog1928CenterR800.jpg (432681 bytes)
This illustration became the centerpiece
 for the company's Copyright 1928  catalog.
   
JSAPhotoProofBoxTopR900.jpg (323921 bytes)

JSFiguresCroppedR1000.jpg (323128 bytes)
This is the photograph of this 
very well known circus layout.    

STBoxBrownSkewedR1000.jpg (758653 bytes)
And this is how it appears as a 
color illustration on a box top.

JSBAcrobatsPhotoR1000.jpg (496451 bytes)
This is a photograph of acrobat set No. 20/50.

JSBAcrobatsDrawingR900.jpg (453826 bytes)
The illustration appears on page 6 of 
their Copyright 1918 catalog.

JS1LithoTentR800.jpg (386409 bytes)
This proof shows the lithographed
 tent with lithographed side panels.
JS1RedLithoTentR800.jpg (735536 bytes)
A proof of the reduced litho tent
JSBMiniatureDrawingR900.jpg (1039077 bytes)
Illustrations of various poses of their miniature circus figures
JSBMiniatureSetR900.jpg (435430 bytes)
The Miniature circus set.
JS1GrotesqueWagonR800.jpg (367201 bytes)
A photo of the grotesque parade wagon
JS1RedWhiteTentR800.jpg (426653 bytes)
A proof of the reduced white tent 
produced in the late 1920s

JSBRed2119R900.jpg (476137 bytes)
A photograph of reduced set 21/19

JSBRed2119DrawingR900.jpg (633422 bytes)
The illustration appears on page 14 
of their Copyright 1928 catalog.

JS1SailorBoyR800.jpg (451210 bytes)
Probably one of one the Schoenhut family 
posing with a group of figures. 
This image was used in 1925 magazine ads with pianos.
JSAAnimalActPhotoProofR900.jpg (378948 bytes)
This is the photo proof for the regular size set 20/32 which appears on page 7 of their Copyright 1928 catalog.
JSBBandonHorsesR1000.jpg (288962 bytes)
The 7 - member band ca 1910 on horseback.

JSBBandStandingR1000.jpg (274653 bytes)
The band standing. Notice the style of the braiding on their coats. Has anyone seen this style on any actual band members?

JSBHorseActR1000.jpg (352791 bytes)
This photograph, made for an insert ca 1910, shows educated white horses, none of which have platforms.

JSBLionTamerActsR1000.jpg (276841 bytes)

JSACircuActDrawingR900.jpg (379620 bytes)
This illustration for regular size set 20/28 appears on page 11 of the Copyright 1928 catalog.
JSADrawingSetR900.jpg (573596 bytes)
This illustration of reduced set No. 21/22 appears on page 15 of their Copyright 1928 catalog.
JSBTentPhotoR900.jpg (390305 bytes)

A photo of an early canvas tent.

JSBTentEarlyR900.jpg (484493 bytes)

JSBChariotClownR900.jpg (431495 bytes)
Photo proofs on burro chariot and clown
JSAGroupDrawing1R900.jpg (573503 bytes)
This illustration of reduced set 21/21 
appears on page 14 of the Copyright 1928 catalog.
JSAPhotoActBisqueR900.jpg (316960 bytes)
A photo of setNo. 20/27
JSBReducedSetPhotoR900.jpg (1015617 bytes)
This photograph of reduced set No. 21/37 appears in their copyright 1928  catalog.
JSBSetPairR789.jpg (1030251 bytes)
JSARedGroupPhotoR900.jpg (543015 bytes)
This is the photograph of reduced set No. 21/20.
JSARedGroup1R900.jpg (647006 bytes)
 The illustration appears on page 14 of the Copyright 1928 catalog.
JSBGroupPhotoCageR900.jpg (433240 bytes)
A photograph of set No, 20/41

JSBGroupDrawingCageR900.jpg (468699 bytes)
The illustration appears on page 11 of 
their Copyright 1918 catalog.

JSBHighWireR900.jpg (381758 bytes)
Photo of the horizontal bar and wheelbarrow
JSBMaryDrawingR900.jpg (381948 bytes)
An illustration of Mary and her lamb
JSBOpenWagonR900.jpg (404604 bytes)
This is probably the last cage wagon made by Schoenhut. Today, it is rare but not popular.
JSBMaxMorDrawingR900.jpg (770276 bytes)
Max and Moritz Set No. 20/60. This illustration appears on page 14 of their Copyright 1918 catalog.
JSBMaxPhotoR900.jpg (519966 bytes)

JSBMaxDrawingR900.jpg (482573 bytes)
An unidentified regular size set

JSBTentSetupR1000.jpg (555793 bytes)
This is the original photograph used to make the center fold illustration for their Copyright 1918 catalog. All of the animals have glass eyes and the lion and buffalos have cloth manes.
JSBTwoWagonsR900.jpg (370248 bytes)
Wild animal cage wagons
JSBRedGroup2133R900.jpg (571064 bytes)

JSBRedGroup2135DrawingR900.jpg (626299 bytes)
This illustration of reduced set No. 21/34 appears on page 14 of their Copyright 1928 catalog.

 

JSBRedGroup2135R1000.jpg (600390 bytes)
Photo of set No. 21/35

JSBRedSet2135R900.jpg (525921 bytes)
This illustration of se No. 21/35 appears on page 15 of their Copyright 1928 catalog.

JSBRedSet2122R900.jpg (585653 bytes)
This illustration of reduced set No. 21/22 appears on page 15 of their Colyright 1928 catalog.
JSBParadeWagonsR1000.jpg (763434 bytes)
The parade band wagon, the parade cage wagon, and the burro chariot from ca 1910
JSBReducedActsFourR1000.jpg (465514 bytes)
I have not identified these reduced size sets.
JSBRingR900.jpg (808074 bytes)
Circus ring No. 30/1. This photo appears on page 15 of their Copyright 1918 catalog.
 

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