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.

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

Red type on white background with illustration of smiley clown's face on the front cover, inside blue type on white background with introduction to history of circus and programme, on reverse advertisement for the Dorset steam and historic fund, 2p.p.

Illustrations and type on red, blue and white on the front cover showing a showgirl and a clown's face, inside introduction and programme and factual information on back cover. Printed by Trelawney Press Ltd, White Lund, Morecambe, 2p.p.

Colour photograph of circus ring with parade in the centre with American and British flags in a circle on a blue background and colour illustration of clown on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers and long articles, half the programme in English and half in Chinese with programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 10p.p.

Gerry Cottle Circus programmes including Circus of Horrors, Cottle and Austen, Cottle-Chipperfield Circus, Continental Berlin Circus, Moscow State Circus and Gerry Cottle's Circus abroad.

Royal Silver Jubilee, Binak Brothers knockabout comedy, Captain Sydney Howes and his lions, The Cimarro brothers high-wire, The Inaros Sisters trapeze, Sonny Fossett and Co. clowns, Otaki and the James Sisters Wild West Show, Batman and Robin aerial act, Captain Universe human cannonball. Colour illustration of human cannonball on cover. Fold out programme with photos.

Cardiff. The Kansas Brothers jugglers, The Swinging Cottrellis balance act, Jimmy Scott and Co. clowns, Royal Bengal tigers, Duo Raycol, Jimmy Scott and Co., La Famille Santus French Wizards on wheels, Arab Stallions, Samson and Delilah strongmen, Mary Chipperfield’s elephants, The Loonies comedy act. Contians photos, 4p.p.

Autumn season. Colour illustration of clown's face with yellow gloves on a blue background and five colour balloons on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers within star shapes and programme in the centre, other information on back cover within two flags, 2p.p.

Four fold brouchure with colour photograph of five white face clowns on a black background and red and yellow type on a blue background inside a blue oblong shape on top left, inside information about Gerry Cottle and colour photographs, colour photographs of acts and performers in the centre, commercial advertising and added insert programme.

Four fold brouchure with colour photograph of five white face clowns on a black background and red and yellow type on a blue background inside a blue oblong shape on top left, inside information about Gerry Cottle and colour photographs, colour photographs of acts and performers in the centre, commercial advertising and added insert programme.

Four fold brouchure with colour photograph of five white face clowns on a black background and red and yellow type on a blue background inside a blue oblong shape on top left, inside information about Gerry Cottle and colour photographs, colour photographs of acts and performers in the centre, commercial advertising and added insert programme.

Blue type on off white background with illustration of clown's face on top right and introduction on front cover, inside blue and off white photographs of performers and back of house scenes programme and article on being a circus proprietor, commercial advertisement on back cover, 2p.p.

Black and white illustration of clown on the left, roaring lion in the centre and ice skater on the right with circus tent and elephants and horses on the background and international flags above on the top section and programme below.

Colour illustration of clown's face with yellow gloves on a blue background and five colour balloons on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of acts and performers within star shapes and programme in the centre, other information on back cover within two flags, 2p.p.

Colour photograph of circus acts in the ring including aerial acts, floor acrobatics and clown on the front cover, inside introduction, colour and black and white photographs of acts and performers with text and other articles and programme, 8p.p.

Black and white photograph of aerial act in the circus ring, blue and white type and blue border with white stars on the front cover, inside introduction to Gerry Cottle and Charlie Cairoli, with black and white photographs and equestrian act above programme, on back cover black and white photographs of perfomers and acts, 2p.p

The Grand Programme. Black type on white background with smiley clown's face and stars by the title and programme below and line border around it with decorative corners.

Colour illustration of large clown's face and roaring lion's head on right hand side with circus ring on the left showing three elephants and their trainer performing below world flags on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of acts and performers and programme, commercial advertising on back cover, 6p.p.