1-9/16” silver medal w/chain links attached above to a metal plate 1.25” wide which has a narrow-fixed bar on the reverse that once held a ribbon. There is no trace of a pin so that must have been on the ribbon. In 1861, Barnum prepared the basement of his American Museum located in lower Manhattan at Broadway and Ann Street as a “small ocean” to hold two beluga whales taken from the St. Lawrence River and transported in salt water filled train cars to NY. Housed in tepid, non-circulating, fresh water, in two days the whales were dead. Their two replacements (of a total of nine whales between 1861-1865) were housed on the second floor in the world’s first oceanarium filled w/salt water piped from the New York harbor. Barnum’s final two whales perished in the July 13,1865 fire that destroyed the museum. This medal given by Barnum was perhaps meant to inspire George Mailbot to again go whale hunting for the rebuilt museum which was also destroyed by fire in 1868. This final fire focused Barnum’s future efforts on building a circus. This unique award reads in hand engraved text “Presented/to my Faithful/Whale Catcher/George Mailbot/P.T.Barnum/1866.” The reverse, also hand engraved, has ocean scene w/a small boat left holding three figures, one w/a harpoon, while at center a large whale shows its teeth blows a water  spout arching over the tiny boat while at right is the factory ship with multiple sails. Very minor surface wear and normal light tarnish. Exc. Historical and Unique.Rex and Patti Stark Collection.