Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Vintage Zoological Engravings--Central Park Zoo



Harper's Weekly  1886

As it is known that Ringling Bros. "wintered" there animals at Central Park, any guess's at who the male is with the ball's on his tusk's?  Possibly Fritz?



 

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper 1868




1888 Harper's Weekly

What incredible, wonderful pieces of history these old illustrations/engravings are. 

8 comments:

Ryan Easley said...

Fritz was a Barnum elephant, not Ringling.

Wade G. Burck said...

Radar,
Okay Mr. Circus World/Circus World Museum. :) I didn't ask who's elephant Fritz was, I asked if this was Fritz?

Wade

Ryan Easley said...

If RINGLING wintered their animals at Central Park...

And Fritz belonged to BARNUM...

And the picture was taken in 1886...

And Fritz died in 1902...

And the two shows merged in 1919...

Then NO.

:)

Wade G. Burck said...

Radar,
You nitwit!!!! It's not a picture, it is an engraving. Pictures is that nonsense you send to Monte Carlo in an effort to suck up to Stephie. Let's just say if Fritz had knobs on his tusk's and he died in 1902, could this be an illustration of him in 1886?

Wade

Ryan Easley said...

Hey, the Mote Carlo bit worked for me :)

It could be Fritz, but Ringling would have nothing to do with it. Central Park held a number of animals from numerous different locations - "clearing house for animal dealers at least until the 1950's," according to Buckles. Two Barnum elephants were there in 1894 awaiting sale. Perhaps Fritz was as well (at an earlier time).

Ringling Brothers was not founded until 1882. They bought their first two elephants in 1888, two years after the engraving.

Wade G. Burck said...

Radar,
Why did I assume your answer to "could this be Fritz" would be, "geez, I don't know. It could be....."

Wade

Ryan Easley said...

I don't see anyone else rushing to your aid!

Wade G. Burck said...

Radar,
Oh, is that what you call this, "rushing to my aid?"

Wade