Barnum's Dream
Rarely seen, strangely stilted, painted tableau image of Barnum asleep, his book "Life of P.T. Barnum" on a table, surrounded by Zip "The What's It?," General Tom Thumb and his wife, Lavina Warren, a bearded woman, a mermaid, a black devil figure, what looks like a black man in striped shirt with cane or polo mallet but is probably supposed to be Joice Heth (Barnum's first exhibit), a fluffy white ghost Jenny Lind. Photo by "...ASHE DAYTON COMPANY…1863" On verso: AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPH COMPANY, NO. 765 Broadway, NY.
![](https://showhistory.com/system/files/styles/nonn-subscriber-full/private/archive/sh.com505-1216.jpg?itok=0Mubk4Dv)