Freedom Auction Company – Winter Circus Auction
February 5
1601 Desoto Road, Sarasota, FL 34234
www.freedomauctions.com
941-725-2166

SARASOTA, FLA. — On February 5, Freedom Auction Company will present The Circus – A Special Collection, an online auction in which telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted. The winter 2023 installment of the company’s circus memorabilia auction offers a diverse collection of fresh-to-market material that comes from abandoned storage lockers, forgotten closets and cross-country journeys.

The auction will be presented live online and Freedom Auction Company will host an auction watch gathering in its gallery. In the past, the assemblage of folks gathered for the auction watch has included historians, archivists, researchers, performers, owners, as well as the public.

A few of the highlights include the Joseph Bradbury (American, 1921-2002) collection. Bradbury was a leading circus historian in the Twentieth Century whose circus photograph archive was used in his research and writings.

A series of nearly 50 fully annotated photograph books will be offered in two parts both here and in the firm’s event in the summer.

The Ray family circus collection is another highlight. The Ray family has a rich history in the American circus dating back to turn-of-the-century acts by Charles Ray. His son, Mervyn Ray, was part of the original Damm Brothers and later married Gloria. Together the two formed the pair, “Labelle and Ray” and later with the birth of Yvonne, “The Labelle and Ray Trio.” Descendants worked the circus all the way into the 2000s. The family focused on comedy acts, sway pole, trapeze and animal acts. The auction contains wardrobe, photos and scrapbooks of the Ray family.

Roberts Bros. – Robert G. Earl Circus (American Circus, 1964 and 1974-2001) comprises articles of Robert and Doris Earl, originally the Aerial Earls of the 1950s, who opened a one-year show in 1964 and later operated the Roberts Bros. Circus with a successful 28-year run touring the South and Eastern United States. Among the articles in this auction are wardrobe, photographs, posters and business archive. A special collection of photo albums compiled by Harold Rupp chronicle the family show over many years on tour.

Also offered will be the Ted Bowman (American, 1927-1999) collection; the Zoppe family collection; and the Duval family collection, among others.

Freedom Auction Company is at 1601 Desoto Road. For information, 941-725-2166 or www.freedomauctions.com.

Another Splendid Collection of Circus Memorabilia. Now Accepting Items for this Stellar Event Happening the Weekend of the Sarasota Circus Ring of Fame