Mr. Van Amburgh and his trained animals and Mr. Hackett, 1839

Isaac Van Amburgh (1808-1865), three quarters Dutch and one quarter Cherokee Indian, was born in America and made his name there with the Titus Menagerie before coming to England in 1838 to perform with his big cats at Astley's Amphitheatre in October 1838 in The Brute Tamer of Pompeii; or, the Living Kings of the Jungle. His success led to an engagement at Drury Lane in the 1839 pantomime Harlequin Jack Frost where his performances in the cage attracted considerable attention and entranced Queen Victoria so much that she attended several performances, wrote about them in her diaries, and invited him to perform before her at Windsor Castle in 1844. In 1839 the Duke of Wellington commissioned Landseer to paint Van Amburgh's portrait, and numerous engravings of him appeared performing various dramatic episodes with his beasts, including The Brute Tamer of Pompeii.

Printed ink on paper theatrical poster for mixed programme of acts including Mr. Van Amburgh and his Trained Animals, Yankee in England and Kentuckian starring Mr. Hackett. Theatre Royal Mancester, Great Britain, 1839. The poster includes black typography and highlights the various acts. The poster also includes a print of Mr. Van Amburgh fighting a lion, tiger and three leopards.