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1920’s wooden handmade circus display set, constructed by model circus builder Isaac Marcks. The set is approximately on a scale of 1/2-inch to 1 foot, with 23 individual wagons/vehicles and over 400 pieces to build a circus “big top” scene with bleacher assemblies, stools, boxes, poles, canvas coverings, etc. All wagons are fully painted, inside and out, save for one which opens to reveal its salvaged cheese crate construction. Details include hand-painted Side Show signs, with1920’s-30’s circus personalities Milo Vagge, Wilbur Harris, and the P.G. Lowery Minstrels among others.
Note: Rarely displayed, this set was thought to be lost after its disappearance from a hobby show in 1961, as referenced in a 1988 letter from (son) Donald Marcks to the consignor. A copy of this letter, along with copies of various newspaper articles regarding the Marcks family will be available to the winning bidder.
History: Isaac Salisbury Marcks (1884-1951), an electrical assembly worker by trade, was a circus enthusiast and model builder, constructing this set in the late 1920’s for his sons to play with. After a visit to the Sells-Floto Circus on June 30, 1930, however, Isaac and his sons began carving another miniature set, representing in minute detail that one day at the circus. After Isaac’s death in 1951, his son Donald (1923-2003) continued the tradition of carving pieces and displaying his circus at hobby shows and circus events throughout California. Eventually his extensive circus layout found its way to a permanent display at Playland (Not-at-the-Beach) in El Cerrito, CA, and were sold at auction in 2018 upon their closure. Don was also the Founder and Editor of Circus Report, a weekly magazine which he published for over thirty years as a celebration of all the show people in all the circuses around the world.
PROVENANCE: The Collection of John Bullard, Brentwood, TN.
CONDITION: Set is in “played-with”, used condition, with most vehicles in need of small repairs such as reattaching wheels or doors and straightening metal pieces. Not assembled, possibly incomplete.
