General Tom Thumb Medal

5766229.

SOLD $175

HANOVER. temp. Victoria. 1837-1901. WM Medal (38mm, 19.31 g, 12h). General Tom Thumb's European Tour. By Allen & Moore. Struck circa 1844. CHARLES S. STRATTON KNOWN AS GEN^L TOM THUMB 25 I^N H^GH, Stratton standing facing on desk with various books, pens, and other small implements; in exergue, 31 I^N H^GH / Carriage left with driver and footman, drawn by four ponies; above, GENERAL TOM THUMB’S EQUIPAGE/ THE EQUIPMENT COST UPWARDS OF/ 400 GUINEAS; in exergue, WHOLE HEIGHT 40 IN BODY 20 IN,/ PONIES 28 IN, CREST, RUSING SUN/ ARMS, BRITANNIA AND LIBERTY/ SUPPORTERS, LION & EAGLE/ MOTTO, “GO-A-HEAD”. BHM 2156; cf. Eimer 1394 (similar). A few light marks, lustrous, choice. EF.

Charles Sherwood Stratton was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1838 with a condition today recognized as pituitary dwarfism. Stratton was noticed by local showman P.T. Barnum, who incorporated the boy into his vaudeville act, giving him the stage name General Tom Thumb. Stratton met great success with Barnum as his manager, touring Europe in the 1840s, where he met Queen Victoria, and becoming remarkably wealthy and famous for the period.