In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, companies such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey used posters to let people know that the circus was coming to town. The U.S. Postal Service® is excited to celebrate the large, colorful pieces of art that showcased eye-catching imagery of stunts, performers, and animals.

This sheet of 16 self-adhesive stamps features reproductions of eight vintage circus posters. Each stamp features one vintage circus poster. The sheet’s verso text includes a brief discussion of the history and purpose of circus posters. The selvage features an image of a circus entrance shot by photographer Edward J. Kelty in 1937.

This 1926 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey poster, made by the Strobridge Lithographing Company, features an ornately costumed elephant. The poster advertises “5 Big Herds Of Performing Elephants In 5 Circus Rings At One Time.”