Dollars and Sense, or How to Get On

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A1. Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago, Illinois: People’s Publishing Company, and New York, New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890.

Legendary showman and circus promoter Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) wrote this semi-autobiographical essay, published together with two others by Henry Hunt and Sheldon Hopkins, just before his death. Barnum is now mostly remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. But he also served as mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and in the Connecticut House of Representatives. Although not designed by Will H. Bradley, this book contains the first published examples of his work in book form, albeit uncredited.

The majority of illustrations in Barnum’s work were drawn by artist William Wallace Denslow (Wonderful Wizard of Oz books). Bradley contributed eight signed illustrations. “The sales dummy,” wrote Anthony Bambace, “contained one Bradley illustration, from page 143 of the book.”


A1a	A1a, title page. First Edition. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890. Coll: 6.25″ w. x 8.375″ h. Binding: Publisher’s red cloth, spine and front stamped in gilt, silver, and black; all text block edges trimmed and marbled; floral endpapers. Title: Dollars and Sense \| or \| how to get on. \| The Whole Secret in a Nutshell. \| By P. T. Barnum. To which is added sketches of the lives of successful men who “rose from the ranks”… By Henry M. Hunt. And an appendix containing money! Where it comes from and where it goes to. Being a concise history of money, banks and banking. By Shelden R. Hopkins… Illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Digital holdings: Archive.org, Google.com. Ref: Bambace, A1; Lindsay, A1a. Cite: Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890.

A1.1	A1a, page 115. Get money, get it hon- \| estly if you can, but \| get money Illustration, page 115. Elderly man in chair, looked on by a devil. Pen and ink, 1890. Signed bottom left, Will H. Bradley Ref: Bambace, pg 3; Lindsay, A1.1. Cite: Bradley, Will H. “Get money, get it honestly if you can, but get money.” Pen and ink illustration, 1890. From: Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890, pg 115. A1.1, illustration, page 115.

A1.2	A1a, page 117. Money Getting \| There are Occasion- \| ally Misers among \| Money-getters Illustration, page 117. Man on knees, worshipping at alter of moneybags. Pen and ink, 1890. Signed lower left, Will H. Bradley Ref: Bambace, pg 3; Lindsay, A1.2. Cite: Bradley, Will H. “Money getting.” Pen and ink illustration, 1890. From: Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890, pg 117. A1.2, illustration, page 117.

A1.3	A1a, page 120. BORROWING \| TROUBLE Illustration, page 120. Distraught woman on fainting couch. Pen and ink, 1890. Signed lower right, Will H. Bradley 1890 Ref: Bambace, pg 3; Lindsay, A1.3. Cite: Bradley, Will H. “Borrowing trouble.” Pen and ink illustration, 1890. From: Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890, pg 120. A1.3, illustration, pg 120.

A1.4	A1a, page 129. Map a Bundle \| of Habits \| ON THE WRONG TRAIN Illustration, page 129. Rough landscape sketch, with insets of train. Pen and ink, 1890. Signed bottom right, Will H. Bradley Ref: Bambace, pg 3; Lindsay, A1.4. Cite: Bradley, Will H. “Map a bundle of habits.” Pen and ink illustration, 1890. From: Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890, pg 129. A1.4, illustration, pg 129.

A1.5	A1a, page 137. Brethring and Sisters Illustration, page 137. Man walking. Pen and ink, 1890. Signed bottom right, Will H. Bradley Ref: Bambace, pg 3; Lindsay, A1.5. Cite: Bradley, Will H. “Brethring and sisters.” Pen and ink illustration, 1890. From: Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890, pg 137. A1.5, illustration, pg 137.

A1.6	A1a, page 143. KEEPING \| YOUR \| GRIP \| “ah, ha, my Father is rich” Illustration, page 143. Views of a mansion and log cabin. Pen and ink, 1890. Signed lower center-right, Will H. Bradley Ref: Bambace, pg 3; Lindsay, A1.6. Cite: Bradley, Will H. “Keeping your grip.” Pen and ink illustration, 1890. From: Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890, pg 143. A1.6, illustration, pg 143.

A1.7	A1a, page 146. Retiring From Business Illustration, page 146. Bearded gentleman, reclining with a newspaper. Pen and ink, 1890. Signed bottom right, Will H. Bradley 1890 Ref: Bambace, pg 3; Lindsay, A1.7 Cite: Bradley, Will H. “Retiring from business.” Pen and ink illustration, 1890. From: Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890, pg 146. A1.7, illustration, pg 146.

A1.8	A1a, page 148. LAUGH AND GROW FAT Illustration, page 148. Laughing man. Pen and ink, 1890. Signed upper left, Will H. Bradley Ref: Bambace, pg 3; Lindsay, A1.8 Cite: Bradley, Will H. “Laugh and grow fat.” Pen and ink illustration, 1890. From: Barnum, P.T. Dollars and sense, or how to get on; the whole secret in a nutshell. Chicago: People’s Publishing Company, and New York: Henry S. Allen, 1890, pg 148. A1.8, illustration, pg 148.

Citation: Lindsay, Martin S. Dollars and Sense, or How to Get On. Website: WillBradley.com. Accessed 26 Nov 2024, <https://willbradley.com/work/books/dollars-and-sense-or-how-to-get-on/>. Bibliography. References.