Circus Album, with Menageries & Ringling Bros. Photographs.
[United Kingdom]: Ca. 1960-70s. Hardcover. An impressive British album of circus performer photographs, including 3 of the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus and images of some famous traveling menageries, including Bostock & Wombwell's and Mander's Menagerie, as well as acts, many with manuscript captions. The album with front cover label reading "Stourpaine Bushes '74, Site and Vehicle Caravan". Stourpaine Bushes was the site in Dorset England where the Great Dorset Steam Fair took place, starting in 1969.
Many performers identified with captions including:
Temple Mead Bristoff , "The Cumberlands"; Vaclav Zelenka & Specially Constructed Trampoline; The Brockways, Masters of Agility, Balance and Comedy on Bicycles; Sally & Kevin McGrath, Kevin [the] runner up in World Professional Skating Championship; Bert Stevenson & Joe Marshall"; "The Three [Edigehs?] ; Jousson Bros, Gerard & Philippe; Joe Jackson Jnr"; Bostock and Wombwell's Menagerie (famous menagerie founded in 1810) including images of the three menagerie wagons "Rajah", "Pedro" and "Nero" with images showing drivers, staff and children; the late Billy Smart & Sons; Jimmy Kaye's Freak Show; Mander's Family on the front of their "Grand Star Menagerie" (the family in front of the huge caravan; this Menagerie was founded by William Mathers in the 1860s; he was considered the greatest showman of his day); and Harry Cody's Circus Front.
Other images include elaborate ice shows; Lou Jacobs (clown), Gunther Gebel Williams, Mani Niedermeyer (with Polar bear), Le Chabre, Dorellos Sisters, the Breuer Troop, Trio Findai, Berosini & Chimps, "Franz Krefts brown bear, the most difficult & dangerous animals to train"; Werner & Denyse Muller; Lucien Meyer's Skating Chimpanzees; and Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey's Elephants rehearsal at Louisville".
A mix of original b&w snap shots and stock photographs, some in color. The album 12 x 10 ½", bound in yellow cloth with cord tie, paper title laid down at front cover. 78 photographs, laid down, ranging in size from 10 x 8 to 3 ½ x 4 1/2" Very good condition. Item #23867
Price: $350.00