Vignettes
Commentaries on Items in the Gross Collection
⇚ Select other Commentaries here (16 available)Wednesday, October 3, 2018 — Scott R. Trepel
1188 - United States Stamp Treasures from the William H. Gross Collection
Waterbury Cancellations
The Waterbury Circus Elephant
John W. Hill, the whittling postmaster of Waterbury, was often inspired by local events when he created his hand-carved fancy cancellations. In April 1866, Bailey & Co.’s Menagerie and Circus displayed animals in nearby Hartford, including the only “gigantic living Hipopotamus [sic]” in America and the celebrated “comical performing Elephant” on display from Sands, Nathan & Co.. Shown below are newspaper clippings related to the circus, one of which illustrates the elephants performing circus tricks.
This Waterbury Elephant cover in the Gross collection is the only one recorded with a 2¢ Black Jack stamp.
