Blondin Collection

Female Blondin / Tightrope
Madame Genevieve Young, the Female Blondin crosses the Thames between Battersea and Cremorne

ABRAHAM LINCOLN. An 1860 American cartoon comparing presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln to Charles Blondin, the French acrobat who crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope ealier that year

The Female Blondin Crossing a High Wire over the River Tha
Engraving showing The Female Blondin, also known as Madame Boutelle and perhaps Polly Freeman, walking a high wire across the River Thames from Battersea to Cremorne Gardens, London, 1861

Blondin Audience Ledger
A fascinating unused page from a ledger to record the ticket sales and money accrued from a performance of the legendary tightrop walker Charles Blondin The Hero of Niagara

Blondins Pantomimic Drama at the Crystal Palace, Planters House on the Coast of Brazil, Blondin, as an Ape
1620079 Blondins Pantomimic Drama at the Crystal Palace, Planters House on the Coast of Brazil, Blondin, as an Ape, nursing the Planters Child (engraving) by English School

Miss Marie Spelterini crossing Niagara Rapids on a rope (engraving)
669479 Miss Marie Spelterini crossing Niagara Rapids on a rope (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Miss Marie Spelterini crossing Niagara Rapids on a rope)

Blondin Cooking an Omelet over Niagara (engraving)
3628081 Blondin Cooking an Omelet over Niagara (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Blondin Cooking an Omelet over Niagara)

The Blondin Galop by W Guernsey
Promotional music sheet for The Blondin Galop by W. Guernsey. Charles Blondin is shown crossing Niagara falls on a tight-rope, the feat which had made him famous in 1859

Crystal Palace. Blondin. The Hero of Niagara (engraving)
559919 Crystal Palace. Blondin. The Hero of Niagara (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Crystal Palace. Blondin. The Hero of Niagara)

Have you seen Blondin? (engraving)
5227151 Have you seen Blondin? (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Have you seen Blondin? Illustration for Fun magazine, 1862.); © Look and Learn

An acrobats living (engraving)
5227150 An acrobats living (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: An acrobats living. Illustration for Fun magazine, 1862.); © Look and Learn

Blondin crossing the Arno on a Tight-Rope at Florence for the Benefit of the Sufferers from the Cholera (engraving)
1045714 Blondin crossing the Arno on a Tight-Rope at Florence for the Benefit of the Sufferers from the Cholera (engraving) by English School

Blondins feat (engraving)
6013299 Blondins feat (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Blondins feat. Illustration for World of Adventure (Cassell, 1895).); © Look and Learn

Blondin, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (colour litho)
5220438 Blondin, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (colour litho) by Gould, Francis Carruthers (1844-1925); Private Collection; (add.info.: Blondin, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman)

TIGHTROPE / BLONDIN & ROPE TIGHTROPE / BLONDIN & ROPE
Blondin (JEAN-FRANCOIS GRAVELET) - with his tightrope in London Date: 1861

Blondin at Shoreditch, 1872. Creator: Gustave Doré
Blondin at Shoreditch, 1872. Charles Blondin French acrobat, walks the tightrope in Shoreditch. From, " LONDON. A Pilgrimage" by Gustave Dore and Blanchard Jerrold. [Grant and Co

Blondin Outdone, 1859. Palmerston, dressed in contemporary circus costume, wheeling a nervous looking Lord John Russell across a tightrope with Niagara Falls in the background

Blondin cooking an omelette in a high-wire act, 19th century
Illustration showing Blondin (1824-1897), the French tight-rope walker and acrobat, cooking an omelette as part of a high wire act

Blondin Country Club, Caracas, Venezuela, Central America. Date: circa 1930

Source Size = 5752 x 3979
The Female Londin Crossing the Thames from Battersea to Cremorne on a Tight Rope

CHARLES BLONDIN (1824-1897). Assumed name of Jean Francois Gravelet. French tightrope walker. Blondin at the Crystal Palace, London, in 1861. Wood engraving from a contemporary English newspaper

Blondin Portrait
CHARLES BLONDIN French tightrope walker, drawn during his visit to England. Date: 1824 - 1897

Blondin tower, Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry, North Wales
View of a Blondin tower at Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry, Nantlle Valley, Caernarvonshire (now Gwynedd), North Wales. This is part of the high wire carriage system used to move the slate around

Blondin winder, Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry, North Wales
A Blondin winder at work, at Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry, Nantlle Valley, Caernarvonshire (now Gwynedd), North Wales. The Blondin is a high wire carriage system used to move the slate up or across

Workman pushing slate quarry tram, North Wales
A workman pushing a slate quarry tram with a large block of slate resting on top of it, somewhere in North Wales. These small trams can carry up to half a ton of raw slate

Blondin system, Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry, North Wales
View of the Blondin high wire and truck at Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry, Nantlle Valley, Caernarvonshire (now Gwynedd), North Wales

Abandoned equipment near Penyrorsedd, North Wales
A steam Blondin winder, abandoned above Penyrorsedd Slate Quarry, Nantlle Valley, Caernarvonshire (now Gwynedd), North Wales. There is a pile of broken slate in front of it

Blondin at the Crystal Palace, London, 1861
Engraving showing Blondin (1824-1897), the French high-wire walker and acrobat, pictured outside the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, with one of his ropes

Blondin riding a bicycle on a high-wire, 19th century
Illustration showing Blondin (1824-1897), the French tight-rope walker and acrobat, riding a bicycle along a high-wire

Blondins Arena
The Gigantic Arena erected for a demonstration of the tightrope walking skills of the legendary acrobat Charles Blondin. Up to 5000 spectators filled the massive tent

Blondin Crosses Niagara
Blondin crosses Niagara Falls (with his agent on his back!) Date: 1859

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"Blondin: The Fearless Female Tightrope Walker" Step into the world of Blondin, a remarkable female acrobat who defied gravity and captivated audiences with her daring tightrope crossings. From crossing high wires over the River Thames to traversing Niagara Falls, Blondin's audacious feats left spectators in awe. In an 1860 American cartoon, Abraham Lincoln was compared to Charles Blondin, highlighting his courage and determination just like the French acrobat. Both men were seen as trailblazers in their respective fields. The Blondin Audience Ledger reveals the immense popularity she enjoyed during her performances. People from all walks of life flocked to witness her breathtaking acts at Crystal Palace and even on the coast of Brazil where she portrayed an ape nursing a planter's child. Not limited by gender stereotypes, Miss Marie Spelterini followed in Blondin's footsteps by crossing Niagara Rapids on a rope. Her engraving immortalizes this incredible achievement that pushed boundaries and inspired future generations. But it wasn't just about death-defying stunts for Blondin; he also showcased his unique skills by cooking an omelet over Niagara Falls. This astonishing act demonstrated not only his balance but also his culinary prowess. The legacy extended beyond mere performances - it even inspired music. "The Blondin Galop" composed by W Guernsey became a popular tune associated with this iconic figure. Crystal Palace dedicated an engraving solely to honor "Blondin: The Hero of Niagara. " It depicted him triumphantly conquering nature's forces while captivating onlookers with every step he took on that precarious wire. People couldn't help but be intrigued by this extraordinary individual. An engraving titled "Have you seen Blondin?" highlights how he became a topic of conversation among admirers eager to catch a glimpse of his mesmerizing acts. Living as an acrobat came with its own challenges, as depicted in an engraving titled "An Acrobat's Living.