The Charles Taylor collection is a fine example of Taylor’s of Wombwell printers’ posters, which highlight changes in printing techniques, fashion and taste within the popular entertainment industry. Included are examples of posters for pantomimes, fairs and circuses. The collection also contains handbills and other advertising material.

Chipperfield Circus programmes including Chipperfield Brothers Circus and Sally Chipperfield Circus

5th season. Colour illustration of white rearing horse on the right hand side, clown face on bottom left and black illustration of wild cat and tamer in cage on a green background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p

6th season. Colour illustration of white rearing horse on the right hand side, clown face on bottom left and black illustration of wild cat and tamer in cage on a green background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p

7th season. Colour illustration of white rearing horse on the right hand side, clown face on bottom left and black illustration of wild cat and tamer in cage on a green background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p

Thames Television invitation ticket admit one, David Hamilton Ringmaster, Mary Chipperfield and her elephants, poodles, monkeys and tigers, Los Alamos Wild West show, Herculeans Moustachioed strongmen, Bubi Ernesto and company clowns, Dick Chipperfield with panthers and leopards, Brucksons balance act, The Leotaris trapeze act. Contains tiger illustration, 4p.p.

Circus programmes and VHS tapes from Billy Smart’s Circus and Chipperfields’s Circus collected during the 1970s and early 1980s by the TV producer, Christopher John Palmer. There are also a number of promotional photographs of artistes and other ephemera related to the circus.

Gouache on card poster design. Colour illustration of many circus acts including elephants, two chimpanzees, on on stilts, one on a top horse, horses, six performing poodles led by a woman in a pink dress, acrobats and a clown, background image of circus ring with night sky above, no type.

This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses

Circus posters printed by Taylor's of Wombwell.

Black and white photograph of animal trainer, Clem Merks, shown in a leopard print costume outside a living caravan. Stamped on the reverse as the copyright of Captain A. E. Middleton.

Joliet, E. of city limits, Rt. 52 Manhattan Rd, Friday 7 August. Colour illustration of cage tamer in white shirt and trousers surounded by roaring lions and tigers in yellow, blue, red and green with red type, date and location added on at the bottom.

Includes correspondence sent to Ruth Manning-Sanders from performers that she met whilst travelling with the circus, including Freddie Pickford and various members of the Rosaire family, notably Fred Rosaire (also known as The Count) and Florence Rosaire (known as The Countess).

Items of correspondence including personal and business letters and Christmas greetings.

Manuscript letters sent to Ruth Manning-Sanders from Freddie Pickford, relating to his route while performing as an animal trainer with 'Empire Circus', the financial problems experienced during his time working for a circus in Portsmouth, as well as news concerning his elephant, Lizzie. The letters are signed 'F. Pickford and Lizzie the Elephant'.