Selling celebrity in the 1860s with ‘Somebody’s Luggage’

From the ‘A’ list to the ‘Z’ list, today’s celebrities sell their stories to the gossip magazines and their brand and image to the public—a Brad Pitt poster, a One Direction onesie, or a Kylie duvet cover can all be yours for a price.

In the 1860s things weren’t so different for ‘General’ Tom Thumb and his wife Lavinia Warren. Part of showman PT Barnum’s troupe of performers, these were the most famous little people in the world. Their picture was a commodity many people were willing to pay for.

Charles Sherwood Stratton was originally hired by Barnum in 1842 due to his small stature. He was given the stage name of ‘General’ Tom Thumb, and quickly became the star attraction at Barnum’s American Museum in New York City.

On 10 February 1863 Stratton married his fellow performer Lavinia Warren in an extravagant ceremony at Grace Church, an Episcopal cathedral New York City. The ‘Fairy Wedding’ was the event of the season and made front page news in the New York Times and Harper’s Weekly.

PT Barnum relentlessly promoted the wedding. As well as a genuine marriage it was an opportunity to make money from selling tickets and souvenirs.

Within The Royal Photographic Society Collection is a brilliant example of how PT Barnum made money from the fascination that the public had for General Tom Thumb, Lavinia Warren, and the other little people he employed.

This tiny gilt locket, with the shape and detail of a suitcase, is inscribed with the title ‘Somebody’s Luggage’. It is only 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) high. A mass produced commemorative souvenir, it contains a pull out concertina of 12 tiny albumen prints.

These show Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren’s wedding along with photographs of their attendants—bridesmaid Minnie Warren, and best man George Washington Morrison Nutt (Commodore Nutt).

The photos show the four performers in a variety of poses and costumes, including Tom Thumb as Napoleon.

Often they are posed with a full sized chair to emphasise their small stature.

One photograph shows Lavinia with a baby; this was also a publicity stunt concocted by Barnum. The Thumbs remained childless, but the baby was incorporated into the Thumb story after their honeymoon and ultimately exchanged for a new, smaller infant when it grew larger than its ‘parents’.

The date of ‘Somebody’s Luggage’ is uncertain. It is certainly after the wedding in 1863, but probably produced before 1866 when General and Mrs Tom Thumb, Minnie Warren, and Commodore Nutt travelled to England to perform.