Iowa, Independence. Olders Museum, Circus & Menagerie. Mirror. Bowers IA-320.  Gilt brass. Choice Ab

Iowa, Independence. Olders Museum, Circus & Menagerie. Mirror. Bowers IA-320.  Gilt brass. Choice About Uncirculated.，Obverse: Mirror. Reverse: Lion to right at center, with legend around, OLDERS MUSEUM, CIRCUS & MENAGERIE / COMING. The light satiny golden surface on the shell has minor areas of missing gilding, some of which appear as made. This condition is seen on other cards as well. The mirror is clear with a few natural flecks in the backing. Iowa cards are rather scarce, as the number of issuers was fairly small.<p>Olders Museum, Circus & Menagerie was conducted by Pardon A. Older. Based in Independence, Iowa, the show traveled widely and was well known in its time. The <em>New York Clipper</em> of April 8, 1871, gives substantial detail:<p>"Olders Museum, Circus and Menagerie. Officers: Proprietor, P.A. Older; Manager, L. Tilden; General Business Agent, J.M. Chandler; Contracting Agent, E.A. Alexander; Treasurer, W.R. McLane; Press Agent, Chas. A. Turner; Master of Canvas, Wm. Arnold; Master of Horse, J. Thompson; Equestrian Director, Jacob Showles; Leader of Band, A.D. Good; Receiver of Tickets and General Business Manager, Chas. Spicer. Riders: George Holland, Mlle. Leslie, Senorita Vicenta. Clowns: Jerry Hopper, George Madden, Willie Showles and J. Showles. Gymnasts, etc. - Madam Sanyeah, Nelcourt Brothers, Holland Family, Chas. Spence, James Gallagher, Eddie Holland, Lewis, Henri and others. Trick Horses - Madam Showles, with her trained horse, American eagle. Ponies: Six Ponies. Trick Mules: January, Barney and Tip. Number of men employed, 100; horses, 135; wagons, 40. Proprietor of Side Show: Geo. Castillo; Concert, Chandler & Phillips; Candy Privilege, Madden & Dwyer. Chief Bill Poster: J.N. Young. This concern has a Museum of Curiosities, among the most prominent of which is the Stone Giant, or petrified man; also a fine representation of the Gorilla tribe. They run a three centre-pole canvas. In the Menagerie are fifteen cages, with Elephant, Horned Horse, Sea Cow, White Bactrian Camel, three Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Hyena, Black Bear, Black Wolf, two Kangaroos, Black Madagascar Goat, Civet Cats, Cashmere Goat, Ant Eaters, Badgers, Apes, Monkeys and all the tropical birds. They will give a very fine street procession, consisting of a first class band wagon, with fifteen first class musicians; then follows elephant, ponies, oriental display of horses, men, cages and grotesques. Organizing at Independence, Iowa, where first performance will be given about the 20th of April."<p>The "Sea Cow" was probably a manatee. Often, curious and innovative names were given to creatures-such as Robinsons highly publicized wallapus, whatever that was.<p>，Ex Gary Pipher, February 1979; R. Kent Kavanaugh; Steve Tanenbaum, 2011; Q. David Bowers Collection.，