Lot 188

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Description:

CIRCUS SARRASANI AND THE DRESDEN FIREBOMBING
An evocative relic of Germany's most famous circus, the Dresden firebombing, and a doubly tragic victim of the Nazis: the Arbeitsbuch (working papers) of Chinese acrobat KWAI HUO CHENG, a prominent member of the famous Sarrasani Circus troupe who to the disgust of racist Nazi authorities had married a Dresden woman and had had a child with her. The book, signed by Kwai in Chinese and German, shows that he was born in 1911 in Wuchow and stamps within show constant employment from its issuance in 1939 to Dec. 31, 1943. Among his employers was the Sarrasani Circus, Circus Barclay, Coliseum Betriebe, Kabarett Strebel, Circus Busch, Circus Krone, and many other cabarets and clubs throughout Germany. A dampstain within barely detracts, else quite good. On Feb. 14th, Kwai kissed his wife farewell at a tram stop and was never seen again - likely killed while evacuating animals from the circus building. With copies of photos of Kwai, his wife and child, and supporting research. The Circus Sarrasani was a Dresden-based German circus that reached world fame prior to World War II, best known for its elephant acts and performances by Sioux Indians, who were employed from its earliest years. In 1912 a permanent circus building opened, designed by Max Littmann for Sarrasani. On Feb. 13-14, 1945, Dresden was subjected to one of the most terrible bombings of all time: Allied bombers dropped 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices on the city. The resulting firestorm destroyed 15 square miles the city center and caused 25,000 civilian casualties. Among the buildings destroyed was the Sarrasani Circus building.

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May 8, 2012 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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