A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.

Drawings and designs used for the decoration of fairground rides.

Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.

This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.

Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.

Black and white photographs and postcards of the Ohmy, the Smart and the Sanger circuses and family members, including John Sanger in sailor’s uniform. Also a variety of circus performers including Mme. Morelli from the Bostock menagerie. Many of the postcards have been used for correspondence.

Male lion and lioness, horned horses or nilghau, zebra, elephant, royal male tiger, hyaena, panthers, leopard, jaguar, porcupine, lynx, wolf, sloth, kangaroos, emew, cassowary, pelican of the wilderness, adjutant, royal crown cranes, black swan, condor minor. Black type on off white paper with illustration of lion on the top half section. Printed by W. Major, Printer, John's Steps, Bristol.

A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.

Handbills for travelling shows, exhibitions and performances at Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington.

Pair of African lions, pair of Bengal Royal tigers, hyenas, porcupines, leopards, Bangalore wild cat, vultures and other wild animals at King's Mews, Charing Cross. Printed by J. King, College Hill, Upper Thames Street.

A noble lioness and her three fine young cubs, exhibited along with Bengal Royal tiger, porcupines, leopards and other wild animals at Exeter Change, Strand, London. Poem on reverse, 2pp.

Etching on paper by Samuel Howitt (1756/7-1822), publisher: S. Polito propietor. Black and white illustration of wild animals including elephant, rinocerous, cebra, lions, tiger, bear, kangaroos, camel and many more in a landscape. Taken from life amongst the numerous assemblage at the Royal Menagerie Exeter Change, Strand, London.

Home Park, Windsor. Black and white illustration of Wombwell's tent with elephant walking out and people around on top section and silver and white type on blue background on the front cover, inside Black and white photographs of the Queen, famous personalities and circus performers, articles and commercial advertising, 22p.p.

Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Bostock and Wombwell's Menagerie and Bertram Mills, 110p.p.

Billy Smart's and David Smart's Circus posters.

Smart Circus programmes, including Billy Smart Circus, David Smart Circus and Smart Circus Royal Performance Galas.

Black type on red background. Printed by Moody Bros. Ltd, Birmingham.

Early circus and menagerie posters including Polito's menagerie, Astley's Amphitheatre and Pablo Fanque's, Sanger's, Powell's, Ducrow's, Cooke's and Hengler's circuses among others.

Bostock and Wombwell’s Splendid Menagerie at Royal Agricultural Hall. World Famed Temple of the Dram. Printed by Geo. Stevens, Steam Printer, 87 Commercial Road, E., and Adelaide Buildings, London Bridge, 2pp.

This collection consists of the complete run of The World's Fair Newspaper from 1904 to the present day. Issues from 1904 to 1950 are on microfilm.