Live Auction

Step Right Up: Circus and Sideshow Memorabilia

Start: Sep 03, 2026 11:00AM EDT

Auction ended

View Catalog (669)

Featuring the collection of lifelong circus collector John Diesso, this auction includes heralds, couriers, and posters advertising the "greatest shows" of yesteryear. Photographs, route books, scrapbooks, and circus costumes will be also be offered, spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Prices Realized

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Lot 145

Cole Bros. Circus / Jennie O'Brien Famous Equestrienne.

Estimate

$100 - $200

3 Bids

Sold for

$75

Lot 146

Pair of Cristiani Bros. Circus Posters. Circa 1950s.

Estimate

$150 - $250

2 Bids

Sold for

$87.50

Lot 147

Cristiani Bros. Circus / Finest Menagerie on Earth.

Estimate

$50 - $150

2 Bids

Sold for

$48

Lot 148

Pair of Lewis Bros. 3 Ring Circus Posters. Circa 1940s.

Estimate

$150 - $250

1 Bid

Sold for

$48

Lot 149

Nine Carson & Barnes Circus Posters. 1990s/2000s.

Estimate

$50 - $100

1 Bid

Sold for

$30

Lot 150

Group of 18 Carson & Barnes Circus Posters.

Estimate

$150 - $250

7 Bids

Sold for

$240

Lot 151

Group of 13 Clyde Beatty - Cole Bros. Circus Posters. Circa 1940s-60s.

Estimate

$200 - $300

10 Bids

Sold for

$406.25

Lot 152

Barnes Circus 28 Sheet Billboard Circus Poster. Color Lithograph, Seven Complete Sets. Dozens of extra sheets. Globe Poster Corp. Circa 1940.

Estimate

$1,000 - $2,000

Unsold

Lot 153

Group of 4 Shrine Circus Posters. 1980s/2004.

Estimate

$100 - $200

1 Bid

Sold for

$30

Lot 154

Pair of State/County Fair Stock Posters. Circa mid-20th century.

Estimate

$100 - $200

Unsold

Lot 155

Group of 7 Circus Posters. Circa mid- to late-20th century.

Estimate

$100 - $200

5 Bids

Sold for

$108

Lot 156

Group of 40 circus window cards.

Estimate

$150 - $250

2 Bids

Sold for

$120

Lot 157

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Ten half-sheet posters.

Estimate

$150 - $250

5 Bids

Sold for

$156.25

Lot 158

British circus / carnival lithograph poster.

Estimate

$150 - $250

1 Bid

Sold for

$96

Lot 159

Group of over 60 reproduction circus posters.

Estimate

$150 - $300

2 Bids

Sold for

$210

Lot 160

Six American one-sheet circus posters.

Estimate

$200 - $300

1 Bid

Sold for

$60

Lot 161

Group of 39 vintage American circus posters.

Estimate

$300 - $500

21 Bids

Sold for

$960

Lot 162

Cole Bros. Circus. Two posters.

Estimate

$100 - $200

8 Bids

Sold for

$156.25

Lot 163

Lot of approximately 70 circus posters.

Estimate

$100 - $200

5 Bids

Sold for

$180

Lot 164

Group of 8 circus panel posters.

Estimate

$125 - $250

11 Bids

Sold for

$312.50

Lot 165

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Group of 13 posters.

Estimate

$100 - $200

2 Bids

Sold for

$72

Lot 166

Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus / Toledo Sports Arena. 1978.

Estimate

$100 - $200

2 Bids

Sold for

$84

Lot 167

Group of 3 circus posters and two programs.

Estimate

$100 - $200

8 Bids

Sold for

$156.25

Lot 168

Tom Mix London Palladium broadside. 1938.

Estimate

$100 - $200

11 Bids

Sold for

$270

Lot 169

The Fenton Comedy Co. broadside featuring a magician and variety acts.

Estimate

$100 - $200

5 Bids

Sold for

$150

Lot 170

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus / [Leopard].

Estimate

$100 - $150

5 Bids

Sold for

$112.50

Lot 171

Cristiani Bros. World's Largest Circus / Lion.

Estimate

$80 - $150

7 Bids

Sold for

$360

Lot 172

Robert Bros. Circus / Sidney the Boxing Kangaroo.

Estimate

$60 - $90

4 Bids

Sold for

$120

Lot 173

Joe Walsh's Brown Derby Minstrels.

Estimate

$500 - $700

6 Bids

Sold for

$1,200

Lot 174

KELTY, Edward J. Dorothy Campbell Walker with Christy Bros. Circus. 1929.

Estimate

$150 - $250

8 Bids

Sold for

$420

Lot 175

KELTY, Edward J. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Brooklyn, NY, 1931.

Estimate

$250 - $350

13 Bids

Sold for

$570

Lot 176

KELTY, Edward J. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Circus. Madison Sq. Garden.

Estimate

$250 - $350

8 Bids

Sold for

$330

Lot 177

KELTY, Edward J. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Circus in New York's Mammoth New Coliseum in the Bronx. 1929.

Estimate

$250 - $350

5 Bids

Sold for

$240

Lot 178

KELTY, Edward J. The World's Foremost Mid-Air Marvels - Feature of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. 1935.

Estimate

$250 - $350

3 Bids

Sold for

$240

Lot 179

KELTY, Edward J. Christy Bros. Circus. Torrington, Conn. 1929.

Estimate

$250 - $350

4 Bids

Sold for

$330

Lot 180

KELTY, Edward J. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. The Durbar Spectacle. Madison Square Garden, 1933.

Estimate

$250 - $350

7 Bids

Sold for

$330

Lot 181

KELTY, Edward. Christy Bros. Parade.

Estimate

$200 - $300

11 Bids

Sold for

$420

Lot 182

KELTY, Edward J. (1888-1967). Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Big Top. Brooklyn, NY. May 19th 1933.

Estimate

$200 - $400

13 Bids

Sold for

$531.25

Lot 183

Catalogue of the Edward J. Kelty Collection of Circus Pictures.

Estimate

$100 - $200

11 Bids

Sold for

$281.25

Lot 184

KELTY, Edward J. (1888-1967). Circus Photos by Edward J. Kelty.

Estimate

$80 - $125

5 Bids

Sold for

$87.50

Lot 185

Beach Models carnival front panoramic photograph.

Estimate

$200 - $300

5 Bids

Sold for

$270

Lot 186

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey - Cleveland, O. 1920.

Estimate

$200 - $300

6 Bids

Sold for

$660

Lot 187

Sig. Sautelle's panoramic circus sideshow photograph.

Estimate

$250 - $350

3 Bids

Sold for

$270

Lot 188

Panoramic photograph of a street fair or carnival with sideshow attractions.

Estimate

$300 - $500

4 Bids

Sold for

$250

Lot 189

[LITTLE PEOPLE]. Album of 28 CDVs and portrait cards.

Estimate

$250 - $350

7 Bids

Sold for

$720

Lot 190

BARNUM, P.T. CDV of Barnum and Commodore Nutt.

Estimate

$150 - $250

10 Bids

Sold for

$312.50

Lot 191

BARNUM, P.T. CDV of Barnum offering money to Lavinia Warren.

Estimate

$200 - $400

19 Bids

Sold for

$780

Lot 192

BARNUM, P.T. Cabinet card portrait.

Estimate

$200 - $300

5 Bids

Sold for

$240

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Step Right Up: Circus and Sideshow Memorabilia

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