Potter & Potter Auctions
Live Auction

Step Right Up: Circus and Sideshow Memorabilia

Thu, Sep 3, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-09-03 11:00:00 2026-09-03 11:00:00 America/New_York Potter & Potter Auctions Potter & Potter Auctions : Step Right Up: Circus and Sideshow Memorabilia https://auction.potterauctions.com/auctions/potter-potter/step-right-up-circus-and-sideshow-memorabilia-23625
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. A wide array of early European circus posters will be sold, along with a large library of circus books of several thousand volumes.
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Lot 218

COSTENTENUS, George. Captain Costentenus Tattooed Man CDVs, two. Circa 1880.

Estimate: $200 - $400
Current Bid
$100

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$30 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

COSTENTENUS, George. Captain Costentenus Tattooed Man CDVs, two. Circa 1880. Carte de Visite portrait of "The Greek Albanian" tattooed from "head to foot in Chinese Tartary as punishment for engaging in rebellion against the king." Along with a small color litho of the performer who toured with P.T. Barnum. Each approximately 4 7/8 x 2 3/8".

Condition

Minor fading and soiling.

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