New York, New York. W.C. Coups New United Monster Shows. Bowers NY-4260. Gilt brass. 37.8 mm. Choice About Uncirculated.，Obverse: W.C. COUPS / NEW UNITED MONSTER SHOWS / THREE / TIMES / LARGER / THAN / [at center, head and shoulders portrait of Coup facing left] / PARIS HIPPODROME / EVER / 9 BANDS OF MUSIC / WORLD SEARCHED FOR CURIOSITIES. At upper left and right in tiny letters: PAT JUN / 16.68. Reverse: W.C. COUPS / NEW UNITED MONSTER SHOWS / 4 / CIRCUS RINGS / ALL GOING SAME TIME / PAGEANTRY / AN HOUR PASSING A GIVEN / POINT / TENT COVERS A WHOLE / FAIR GROUND / ALL KNOWN LIVING WILD ANIMALS. At upper left and right in tiny letters: PAT JUN / 16.68. A lovely card in very choice condition. Much of the original gilding remains as an aesthetically pleasing accent in the recesses while the more exposed areas have toned to light olive brown.<p>Another nice circus show card. William Cameron Coup (August 4, 1836-March 4, 1895) was one of the more successful circus men of his era. His autobiography, Sawdust and Spangles, tells of his career. He entered show business in the early 1850s to join P.T. Barnums Caravan, a traveling museum display and menagerie. Later, he was with other companies, including joining Yankee Robinson (see listing for shell card) in 1866 and leaving in 1869. With Dan Castello he organized Dan Castellos Great Circus & Egyptian Caravan, which traveled aboard a steamer in the Great Lakes. Afterward the show traveled on land. P.T. Barnum became an investor. In 1871 an astounding profit of $400,000 was posted. After other ventures he formed the New York Aquarium, then in the same city the traveling Equestcurriculum show in 1878 and soon changed its name to the United Monster Shows. In 1882 a train wreck near Cairo, IL, demolished this and Coups Enchanted Rolling Palaces. Plagued with lawsuits he did his best to pay off some of the debts. He remained in the business until he retired in 1894. He died in Jacksonville, FL the following year. An example of this card appeared as lot 561 of W.E. Woodwards sale of the Tilton Collection, April 30, 1886. This shell card is highly unusual for having the patent information on both sides.<p>，Ex Steve Tanenbaum; Q. David Bowers Collection.，
