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Richley, Steve (Steven Blair), 1969 - 2025

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: July 1969 - 3 June 2025

Biography

Steve was a circus historian, collector and author of many books including ‘The Posters of Bertram Mills Circus’, ‘The Posters of Billy Smart’s Circus’ and ‘Sir Robert Fossett’s Circus - The Definitive Visual History’ and co-author of ‘Reco’s Circus’ with Mark Twitchett.

Steven Blair Richley was born in Swansea in 1969 and grew up in Caldicot, South Wales. His interest in circus started at a young age when he was given a poster from ‘Weight’s Famous Circus’ after a visit to his hometown, which started his collecting passion. During his lifetime, he amassed an important collection of thousands of posters from around the world, with significant representations from Bertram Mills, Billy Smart, Chipperfield, Robert Brothers and Gerry Cottle’s circuses and rare examples from Astley, Cooke and Hengler’s circus.

After graduating at Cardiff University in 1990, Steve moved to London to work for Madame Tussauds. Three years later he set up his own company developing visitor attractions around the world.

Following his acquisition of several comprehensive circus poster collections, Steve formed Double Crown Books in 2013 to publish books and material relating to circus art.

Steve was a long-term member of the Circus Friends Association of Great Britain. He died on 3 June 2025 of a heart attack aged 55 years old.

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

B. Cole & Sons Fun Fair Poster, c2000 - 2015

 Item — Richley Collection Plan Chest Drawer 1: Series 178R43
Reference code: 178R43.5
Scope and Contents

Printed poster advertising B. Cole & Sons Fun Fair over the Easter holiday at Redhill Park, Bournmouth. Black and yellow text, and a colourful illustration of amusement rides, stalls and crowds at a fair, 1p.

Dates: c2000 - 2015

Dizzylands Fun Fair Poster, c2000 - 2015

 Item — Richley Collection Plan Chest Drawer 1: Series 178R43
Reference code: 178R43.6
Scope and Contents

Printed poster advertising Dizzylands Fun Fair at Omagh Leisure Centre. Blue background, with red, yellow and black text, and photographs of amusement rides, 1p.

Dates: c2000 - 2015

Dizzylands Fun Fair Poster, c2000 - 2015

 Item — Richley Collection Plan Chest Drawer 1: Series 178R43
Reference code: 178R43.7
Scope and Contents

Printed poster advertising Dizzylands Fun Fair at Lisburn Leisure Complex. White, yellow and black text, with an image of a merry-go-round, 1p.

Dates: c2000 - 2015

Gerry Cottle's Circus Poster, c1980 - 2000

 Item — Richley Collection Plan Chest Drawer 1: Series 178R43
Reference code: 178R43.9
Scope and Contents

Oversize printed poster advertising Gerry Cottle's Circus at Wembley, London. Acts include Jeremy Beadle, Hoppe's World Famous Mules, The Alegria Brothers, Jane and her Giant Pythons and Crocodiles and The Kenya Brothers. Yellow background, with green, red, yellow, black and white text, and photographs and illustrations of performers, 1p.

Dates: c1980 - 2000

Koringa Poster, c1930 - 1959

 Item — Richley Collection Plan Chest Drawer 1: Series 178R43
Reference code: 178R43.1
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of Koringa’s face in green with crocodiles and snakes below on a navey blue background. Printed by Plakatdruck Klibor, Berlin SW68.

Dates: c1930 - 1959

Posters, c1900 - 1959

 Series
Reference code: 178R43
Scope and Contents

Various circus and variety performers posters including Koringa.

Dates: c1900 - 1959

Richley Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0121
Scope and Contents

Circus and sideshow posters including small amount of material on Koringa and copy of Bertram Mill’s Circus limited edition book written by the donor.

Dates: c1950 - 2014

Signed Photograph of Koringa, c1930 - 1959

 Item — Richley Collection Plan Chest Drawer 1: Series 178R43
Reference code: 178Z41.1
Scope and Contents

Autographed Koringa album page, consisting of black and white photograph of Koringa in performance outfit in the centre inside a pencil drawn decagon with some red pencil colouring on a grey piece of paper reading ‘Koringa the only female fakir in the world’ and signed on bottom right. On reverse autographs by George Crangnell and Edward Lauri BBC singer and comedienne.

Dates: c1930 - 1959

The Amazing Bendy Man Kiros Hadgu Poster, c2000 - 2015

 Item — Richley Collection Plan Chest Drawer 1: Series 178R43
Reference code: 178R43.8
Scope and Contents

Printed poster advertising The Amazing Bendy Man Kiros Hadgu. Pink, white and black text, and photographs of Kiros Hadgu, 1p.

Dates: c2000 - 2015

The Insect Circus Poster, c2000 - 2015

 Item — Richley Collection Plan Chest Drawer 1: Series 178R43
Reference code: 178R43.4
Scope and Contents

Printed poster advertising The Insect Circus and The Insect Circus Museum. Brown background, blue white and black text, and colour illustration of a insect circus tent and crowds, 1p.

Dates: c2000 - 2015

Willko Poster, c1900 - 1939

 Item — Richley Collection Plan Chest Drawer 1: Series 178R43
Reference code: 178R43.3
Scope and Contents

On the Tight Wire in Mid-Air, Thrilling Sensation. Colour illustration of male acrobatic act, three scenes on the top section of the poster showing the performer doing tricks on chairs on a tight wire, on the bottom section a large house set in a landscape and a tight wire on the front, the portrait of the performer and the performer doing a hand stand on a tight wire. Printed by Edward Harrison Litho Studio, 18 Regent Terrace, Sheffield.

Dates: c1900 - 1939