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Exceedingly rare original antique die-cut elephant from the American National Circus paper toy set, illustrated by John Greene Chandler (1815–1879) and published by Brown, Taggard & Chase of Boston, Massachusetts, in 1858.
Measuring approximately 9 inches long and 4½ inches tall, the elephant features detailed color lithography with an ornate ceremonial covering, decorative tassels, and a patriotic American eagle and stars-and-stripes shield.
The American National Circus set included circus performers, horses, costumes, and this elephant. It was advertised in the Boston Courier on December 13, 1858.
This exact elephant is illustrated and documented in the American Antiquarian Society\'s September 2013 Almanac article, \"The Paper Elephant in the Room.\" The Society notes the exceptional rarity of surviving examples of these early paper toys.
An early American collectible of interest to antique paper doll and toy collectors, circus memorabilia enthusiasts, and collectors of Victorian die-cuts and chromolithography.
This listing is for the elephant figure only.
Condition: Original antique condition with scattered surface wear, small areas of color loss, and age-related staining and discoloration on the reverse. Please examine photographs for condition.
Original antique, not a reproduction.
Historical Reference: American Antiquarian Society, Almanac, September 2013, \"The Paper Elephant in the Room,\" page 5.
