The Sideshow Banner Reference Book
Painters of the Peculiar
A Guide to Sideshow Banner Artists & their Respective Work
Who painted your banner? This book helps collectors, dealers, and fans identify the artists behind vintage sideshow banners, with artist biographies, a detailed identification guide, and full-color photos of their work.
- Softcover
- 112 pages
- Full color
- 10″ × 8″ landscape
What’s Inside
What’s Inside
Sideshow banners are often misattributed. This guide shows you the brush strokes, lettering, and details that set each painter apart.
Artist Biographies
The stories behind the painters who dominated the banner trade, from Coney Island studios to the traveling carnival midway.
Identification Guide
How to spot each artist’s style: ribbon headlines, typography, background colors, borders, corner rings, and “Alive!” bullets.
Full-Color Photos
Page after page of real banners, plus vintage photos of banner lines on the midway.
Look Inside
Look Inside the Book
Click or swipe to turn pages. Hit Zoom to read them up close.
Artists Covered
Artists Covered
Covers the major artists with a large body of work, including:
- Snap Wyatt
- Fred Johnson
- Bobby Wicks
- Nieman Eisman
- Danny Casella
- Johnny Meah
- & many more
Book Details
Book Details
| Title | Painters of the Peculiar: A Guide to Sideshow Banner Artists & their Respective Work |
|---|---|
| Authors | Michael Papa & Johnny Meah |
| ISBN | 978-0-692-19275-7 |
| Format | Softcover, full color |
| Pages | 112 |
| Size | 10" × 8" landscape |
| Price | $24.99 |
Questions
Questions
Who is this book for?
Banner collectors, antique dealers, auction houses, and anyone who loves carnival and sideshow history and wants to know who painted what.
Does it cover every banner artist?
It focuses on the artists with a large body of work, like Snap Wyatt, Fred Johnson, Bobby Wicks, and Nieman Eisman, plus many more.
Do you ship outside the US?
Yes. Email michaelpapa121@gmail.com with your address for a shipping quote.
Can shops buy wholesale?
Yes. Email michaelpapa121@gmail.com for wholesale pricing.
Have a banner to sell or identify?
Visit Sideshow Banner Exchange.