3-056-205 - The London Archives (City of London)/Heritage Images

5,000 dollars reward! First Arrival in England...Enthusiastic Reception of Barnum's Great and World-renowned Boston Prize Ladies, c1885. '...Who have been specially engaged to complete a Tour of Great Britain at an enormous outlay. Miss Minnie & Rhoda Holland Two Young Girls (Sisters), age 20 and 23, weighing together nearly half-a-ton...Medical Gentlemen & Ladies specially invited. They Have No Equal. Greatest Sight on Earth...Any Person who can bring forward Two Girls of the same Weight as above enumerated, the representatives of this Great Exhibition will immediately pay the Reward offered'. P. T. Barnum's two 'fat lady' sisters were exhibited by P. T. Barnum as an attraction. Showmanship was a hard business. People and animals with unusual characteristics were ruthlessly exploited and there was little care for them once they lost their popularity with the audience.