1870\'s CDV of Harry Gurr, \"Man Fish\", Circus Performer For Sale

Offered is an original 1870\'s CDV image from an engraving, of a circus performer named Harry Gurr.

Gurr worked for Joel Warner\'s Great Pacific Menagerie and Circus from 1871-73 and with W.W. Cole\'s in 1874 on the double trapeze and as a gymnast.

~ Other things he did: performed under water in a large tank,

The CDV is a heavy paper stock, not quite card stock.A credit to the Calvert Lithograph Company, Detroit, MIat the bottom left.

Condition: foxing and light crease. Fortunatelyonly light foxing on image.

Never seen this before and probably never will. A must for your collection.

Size: 2.5 x 4 inches ---- PLEASE NOTE: COPYRIGHT LOGO IS NOT ON ORIGINAL

Shipping includes Insurance - Low starting price... Good Luck

Harry Gurr \"Man Fish\" information

Harry Gurr, man-fish, I am looking for any information on Harry Gurr \"The Man Fish\" who came to the United States in 1839 with Hanlon Brothers. I understand that the also did trapeze and that his wife came with him and she did trapeze also. I am trying to find out her name. She died in Battle Creek, Mi in 1875 at the age of 25. He remarried a woman who was also a trapeze artist. In paperwork they say that she was the first American woman trapeze artist - I also would like her name. I know that she died in 1919 in Tecumseh, Mi. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Lt. Harry Davis.

Reply: 01 Apr 2009 - I have been working on my husband\'s family background. In doing so I have found that his great-grandfather is Harry Gurr known as the \"Man Fish\". I would like to know more info on his wife. I have found that his first wife came with him from England in 1867 with the Hanlon Bros. He was with Barnum & Bailey at one time, Joel E. Warner\'s Great Pacific Menagerie and Circus 1871-73, W.W. Cole\'s, 1874. It said his wife, Mlle. Bastian, female gymnast and trapeze artist traveled with him performing. She died in 1875 in Battle Creek, Michigan. He remarried later to another woman who was also a circus performer. I read that she was the first American woman trapeze artist, but it does not give her name. Can you tell me who she was? She died in Tecumseh, Michigan in 1919 and Harry died in Tecumseh, Michigan in 1935 at the age of 96. Any info that you could give me would be very much appreciated so that we can the information straight. Lt. Harry Davis

Reply: 01 Apr 2009 - I have some information on Harry Gurr, but have not been able to discover the name of his second wife. Mlle. Bastian\'s name may have been Marie Bastian. Since you have his second wife\'s death place and year, you could send for her death record. And possibly check if she was buried in Tecumseh. Judy Griffin

Reply: 12 Apr 2013 - Dear Lt Harry Davis – re Harry Gurr. I have just started (at the age of 81, so there’s not too much time left!) to research my family genealogy. I find that my great-great grandmother’s maiden name was Mary Gurr and it has always been believed in the family that HARRY GURR was her brother.(Many years ago, as a child, I was shown a poster of him in his fish costume. I don’t know what happened to the poster – possibly destroyed in bombing during the war.) If that is correct she was 20 years his junior. I suppose that was not unusual in those days of large families. The reference I have found in the census gives her place of birth as Germany. (In 1881 she was working as a domestic servant in London, aged 21) I would be grateful for any light you may be able to shed on Harry’s birthplace. The name Gurr would seem to me to be of more German than English origin. There are very few Gurrs in the census at any time and so far I have not been able to trace our Harry in any of them – but if he came from Germany and left for America he may have slipped between censuses. But if he came to England than left for America between the 10-year census. The circus is suggestive of a Continental rather than English background and again would relate to what sounds like the French origin of his first wife. I would be very grateful for any information you may have gleaned. Yours sincerely, Valerie Kettley, Kent, England

In his youth Gurr was a wonderful swimmer. He won the world\'s championship in 1863 in a race on the Thames open to all the world.... In 1867 he came to this country with the Hanlon Brothers, famous old time showmen.. During his career he has been with Barnum & Bailey Circus, the J. E. Warner circus and other famous old time shows. ~ George Livingston