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Collections
From around 1910 to 1960, paper negative and photo wallets were found in almost every household drawer or cupboard, often found alongside unwanted photographs or negatives of the past.
This collection started a few years ago following an interest in vintage graphics and 20th Century photographic items.
The search continues for earlier produced wallets, however the early Kodak related printed ephemera has become highly collectable worldwide due to the success of the brand.
CollectionsC
This collection of photographs have been treasured by our family for decades. The UK's travelling showmen scene is a tradition that is steeped in history and family ties. My grandmother was secretary of the South Wales Showman's Guild around 1945 and she came from a long line of showmen. My ancestors would spend time on the road entertaining the masses and would gain their livelihoods by presenting amusements at funfairs. Even, my great grandmother was a tight-rope walker with an 18-inch waist.
My grandmother met my grandfather when he was boxing for Ronnie Taylor in his boxing booth and the entertainers would pay members of the audience to bare knuckle box the man in the ring, (who was my grandfather). The fairground boxing booth was a cradle for many of the great British boxing hopes for over two hundred years.
My mother and her six brothers and sisters travelled the fairgrounds with the showmen between 1940 and 1950 and would attend all of the showmen's 'big top' fancy dress parades. The fairgrounds would become important landmarks in the calendar, both socially and culturally. Auteur touring cinema showmen would exhibit their films in the fairgrounds, which in addition, attributed to the spread and evolution of cinema.
