The Valuable Collection of Books on the Circus Formed by the Late J. Van Doveren, Esq [ Sotheby Parke Bernet, auction catalogue, sale date: 16 March, 1970 (first sale) ]

Sotheby Parke Bernet, London, auction catalogue for the sale held on 16th March, 1970. Printed wrappers, 8vo,. 36 pp, plates. 1 lot. From the introduction: "The present collection of books relating to the circus, one of the largest and most comprehensive ever made, was formed by a man whose whole life was the circus. Jo van Doveren started his career as a "plakker", the man who pasted up the posters and bills for travelling shows and circuses...Comparatively few books relating to the circus appeared before 1850, and the collection is therefore largely composed of books published in the last hundred years. These are as international as the circus itself, and include works published in practically every European country, the United States, South America, Russia and China. Among the earlier books which deserve mention are Tucarro's Trois Dialogues, 1599, and Madame de Pompadour's copy of Francois et Claude Parfaict's Memoires, 1743. Most of the books printed before 1900 are separately described in this catalogue, as are the more important works of specialised or general interest printed during this century. An attempt has been made to classify the remaining books, which are described in groups at the end of the catalogue." About 280 works are individually described, from a total of some 2,000. Recto of frontispiece somehat soiled, otherwise Very Good.