Eli Bowen Broadside, As The Wild Man

Broadside. Very rare, significant artifact from famed legless acrobat Bowen, billed here very early in his career as a Wild Man. As his career progressed Bowen was billed as the “Legless Wonder” and “Legless Acrobat,” and this earlier depiction-- much less dignified-- gave way over the next 50 years to his being cast as a prosperous family man with portraits of him, his well-dressed and good-looking wife and child sold at his performances. This letterpress broadside is printed on pale yellow paper, with various typefaces, with a large central woodcut. 17 ½ x 5,” and is linen backed.