This photo and picture album dates from 1956 and was published by the Dutch Dairy Board in The Hague. The album, written by J. van Doveren and Fred Thomas, offers an extensive exploration of the history and life within the circus. The book is bound with a half-linen cover and has 106 pages, measuring 30.5 x 24.5 cm.
The complete album contains 110 pictures that could be obtained by collectors via stamps on packages of butter. These pictures, consisting of 100 small black and white photos and slightly larger color illustrations, had to be pasted into the album by the owner himself. They are all pasted into this album.The illustrations were provided by artists such as LJ van der Lieuw and Wim van Overbeek.
The album's content is divided into several chapters that provide a detailed overview of circus life. The first three chapters cover the history of the circus from ancient times to modern times.
Today, “De Bonte Droom van het Circus” is considered a valuable collector’s item, especially when the album is complete with all pasted-in pictures and in good condition, as this one is. It offers a nostalgic look at circus life in the twentieth century and is a beloved item among collectors of vintage picture albums and circus enthusiasts.
