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La Fayette.

Emulated, But Not Equaled. La Fayette, King of the Air. [Autograph letter on a tightrope walker’s pictorial letterhead-broadsheet].

Birmingham, England, 12 January 1900. H. Gannett & Co., Ltd., Rotherham, printer. Illustrated letterhead-broadsheet, 17.25” x 11.25”. 1 p. of manuscript. Two faint purple stamps at recto.

A marvelous letterhead-cum-broadsheet advertising the act of La Fayette, an American high wire artist, with an interesting letter from La Fayette to a Mr. Buchanan in Buffalo, New York regarding a possible appearance at the Pan American Exposition.

The left and right columns of this letterhead feature photographic illustrations of La Fayette engaged in various acts. One image taken from a distance shows him at a great height on the high wire, while the rest are closeups mainly showing him on the wire. Identified as the past master of the high rope, in one image he performs while wearing a mask over his head. La Fayette’s feats are described as more daring and having more grace and originality than any of his contemporaries. He is said to be prepared to cross rivers, chasms, towns, and “in fact any place where an altitude of from 50 to 5000 feet may be obtained.” What’s more, “he is superlatively and indisputably champion of champions, uses no net, and works at any elevation or length; his apparatus can be erected for little or nothing, hence Managers of Sec.’s of Fetes, etc., need not apprehend enormous expenses for fixing.” Featured on the verso are twelve excerpts from leading London papers acclaiming his acts.

Writing from Birmingham, England, La Fayette writes to Buchanan in order to introduce himself and drum up some business: “Should you desire to engage any thing in my line for the Pan-American Exposition, I shall be pleased to quote the terms. I have performed at many of the big expositions in Europe, including Earl’s Court Exhibition, and Crystal Palace London; and am perpared to do my business on a scale proportionate to the size of the forth coming Exposition, i.e. by stretching my rope at a great length (say 1000 feet) and height. I may add, that, though my act is better known in England, the Continent, & Australia than in America, I am an American, & moreover my home is at Buffalo and should you wish to arrange, I trust you may, my address is as under. Yours faithfully La Fayette.”

CONDITION: Good, some short tears along old folds.

Item #5775

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