broadside

Yes, 1808

www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2025/0711/1495830-elephant-house-du...

"Stephen Polito (also known as Stephano, Stephani and Stephanus Polito; 1763/64–1814) was a menagerie owner of Italian descent in Georgian England.
Polito was born in Moltrasio, Italy. He owned a menagerie which he toured around England in the late 18th century. He went into partnership with another menagerist named Miles in 1798, and "Miles and Polito's Menagerie" exhibited at St Bartholomew's Fair in 1799. Polito's menagerie also attended Nottingham Goose Fair in 1807. ... ...

From - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Polito

Staffordshire pottery flat back mantelpiece ornament, c. 1830 of the Menagerie of the Polito family. V&A Museum

Early 1908, a notice with similar wording appeared in Saunders's News-Letter on Tuesday 26 January 1808.

Mr Pollito had been in Briston in September 1807.

The adverts in Saunders News-letter continued until 14th May 1808, At some point between 26th January and 4th March the admission price was reduced to "One British Shilling".

So some time between 26th early January and 4th March 1808.

There is another one in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Via Simon Wilkinson who includes a bit of history -

Of course, the Zoo didn’t open until 1831, so these were great novelties

Mr O'Connell's premises at 24 Main Street, Thurles - maps.app.goo.gl/DdscMCbg8MgVPSN8A

Edit - Wrong! Again!

Not Michael "Mixey" O’Connell?

beachcomber australia A fair ways from Thurles, every town had a ‘Main St.’ so perhaps Thurles’s one was renamed?

Main St, Thurles
catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000559135

This guy?
www.tipperarylive.ie/news/news/656253/tipperary-remembers...

Striped socks rock ...
... but not like argyle socks do!
Go on wearing crazy socks :-)

Brian, hear that? You have a fan!