Circusmuseum.nl - A huge collection of circus posters. nearly 8,000 dating from 1880 to 1930 from all around the world, compiled by Jaap Best.

The ultimate image bank with posters, photos and prints from the collection of Jaap Best, the Netherlands’ largest collection of circus memorabilia. For your enjoyment, our online show, now has nearly eight thousand circus posters from 1880 to the present, from the Netherlands to America, from A2 format to several square meters. At the heart of the collection, and dating from 1880-1930, are nearly 3,500 color lithographs by the Hamburg printer Adolph Friedländer. This year alone we have added 7,000 circus photos and picture postcards. Our sophisticated search engine has hundreds of headwords – not just for acts and artistes, and for owners and individual circuses, but also for fairs, variety shows and the theater.


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It’s interesting to compare this to photos from the circus today to that of the 1920’s and 30’s. Personally, I think it’s lost most of it’s charm.
A close friend of mine recently put together another form of tribute for his grandfather, E.J. Kelty, who was often referred to as “The Circus Photographer”. His photos are quite amazing - you’d probably recognize some. They’re from the 20’s and 30’s of the people, the acts, the animals, side shows and more. His site is at www.centuryflashlight.com. Take a look and I’m sure you’ll agree that there was something much more magical about the circus in those days.
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