Lot 139: [BARNUM, P. T.]

Santa Claus and Jenny Lind. New York: John R. M'Gown & Co., [1850]

12mo (5 5/8 x 4 1/2 in.; 144 x 115 mm.). Pictorial title, presentation leaf, engraved text illustrations, text framed by a rustic border of knotty wood, last page with publisher's advertisement; some soiling and spotting. Publisher's yellow pictorial wrappers; soiled and spotted, tear in backstrip.

LITERATURE

Grolier/Elliott 55, illustrated p. 44; Elliott, Inventing Christmas, p. 36

NOTE

"Lindomania" and Santa Claus. In September of 1850, P. T. Barnum began a nationwide tour with a Swedish opera singer that would create a cultural phenomenon, familiar to us from "Beatlemania" and the like, but new at that time. Barnum succeeded in building such great anticipation for the "Swedish Nightingale" [recall "the Fab Four"] that 40,000 people greeted the arrival of her ship in New York. Throughout the tour, Barnum fueled public fascination with Lind by orchestrating events and negotiating Lind-endorsed and Lind-related products, including Jenny Lind songs, clothes, chairs and pianos. Media coverage focused on the singer's personal qualities rather than her singing abilities: she was a thoughtful, selfless, churchgoing young woman, whom audiences clamored to see because of her "noble character."

The present pamphlet embodies all the characteristics of a Barnum-produced, Lind-related product for Christmas. Adorned with odd illustrations signed by W.M. & J.T. Howland or John D. Felter, Santa is depicted as a maniacal Napoleon rather than our familiar rotund white-beard.

In the poem, Santa travels through the land, throughout the year (not just on Christmas Eve), giving presents to deserving boys and girls. As Christmas Eve approaches, he prepares his pockets full of presents: "One pocket I fill with some books, very nice; | They tell pretty stories--I heed not the price."

While riding along on his broomstick at Christmas Eve, he hears a sweet song and, flying down the chimney, meets Jenny Lind who agrees to travel with him. She will sing for the children while he gives them presents. Once, while she is singing, he leaves her in a valley to alight on a mountain top where he cries: "I am dancing a jig; I am having a freak."

Children should not question Miss Lind's modesty, though she travels un-chaperoned with a gentleman: "My dear little girls, don't be jealous and sad | I'm sure you will soon be quite happy and glad; | For I am not married to Jenny--oh! no: | She scarce would accept me one night for a beau. | She has a kind heart, and she loves to do good; | I told her a song would enliven the mood, | And all of the children most happy would be-- | 'Oh! then,' said Miss Jenny, 'I will go with thee.'"