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A number of used books about amusement parks and roller coasters, all originating from the 1990s, have been added to our Secondhand Shop.

Included within this list are several very rare Blackpool Pleasure Beach books, including A Century of Fun, A Hundred Years of Fun, Through the Camera of Lichfield and Where the Theme is Fun.

The almost impossible to find book Britain's Greatest Coasters by the late Andy Preston is also one of the books added, as well as a Drayton Manor souvenir guide.

The newly added books are marked as 'New' on the following page: https://www.joylandbooks.com/secondhand_amusementparks.htm

Heading out to the fair with Fairground Lorries by Carl Johnson. With a wealth of nostalgic and modern era images, this new book offers a fascinating and unique pictorial record of fairground lorries in the UK. https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/fairground-lorries.htm

Lots of rare and collectable circus books have been added to our Used Circus Books store. The newly added items are marked as 'NEW'. https://www.joylandbooks.com/secondhand_circus.htm

This is the long overdue history of a town with a great fairground history. Belper's Fairground Heritage by Neil Calladine tells the story of a fair that has been coming to Belper for hundreds of years.

It demonstrates that showpeople have strong roots, with families associated with the fair living and working in Belper for many years. There is focus on two such families: the Halls and the Proctors.

The book provides much detail on Belper's fair, with lots of detail on the people who owned and operated the fairs which will be o great interest to people with an interest in local history and fairground historians. More: https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/belpers-fairground-heritage.htm

In 2020, with interest in signwriting exploding, Joby Carter co-published his first signwriting and fairground art book with designer Scarlett Rickard.

Signwriting Tips, Tricks and Inspiration has since sold 10,000 copies to readers based in over 50 countries around the world. It is an entertaining and immersive guide to the wonderful world of traditional signwriting and fairground art. https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/signwriting-tips-tricks-and-inspiration.htm

In Novmber 2023, Joby published his second book All the Fonts of the Fair, which features 26 beautiful fairground inspired alphabets which were all designed and painted using traditional signwriting techniques. https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/all-the-fonts-of-the-fair.htm

John Culine was born in a caravan on May 31st 1947. At the age of 11 he left school and began the way of life previously led by his celebrated ancestors, stars of the worlds of circus and fun fairs.

John learned the trade - the life - well and went on to not only become the President of the Showmen's Guild and recipient of an MBE for his untiring work on behalf of showmen and many charities, but he also became Mayor of Spennymoor.

The Mayor from the Fair by John Culine is the story of a man and his amazing heritage. You will laugh, you will cry, you will help repair engines, paint stalls and enjoy the smell of candy floss and hot dogs. You will love seeing the crowds flock for their own fun of the fair. More: https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/mayor-from-the-fair.htm

Happy New Year from Joyland Books!
We have significantly expanded two departments of our Secondhand Shop. We have added lots of new Fairground and Circus books to the store, and to celebrate the New Year we have also reduced a number of items in the various departments, so it is a chance to snap up a bargain. As these are secondhand books, when they are gone, they are gone.

Visit our main departments for used books:
Fairground: https://www.joylandbooks.com/secondhand_fairground.htm
Circus: https://www.joylandbooks.com/secondhand_circus.htm
Amusement Parks: https://www.joylandbooks.com/secondhand_amusementparks.htm

Joyland Books has added a new range of DVDs from Theme Parkology. 'The Land Series' (Disneyland) and 'Ride-Thru Series' (Walt Disney World) provide a front-row view of some of the most famous attractions at these two parks. Follow this link for the titles: https://www.joylandbooks.com/news.htm -Thru_series_of_DVDs_added

The Romany and Traveller Family History Society has published Fairground Destiny: The story of the Rowland family. It’s the latest book from Frances Brown, the highly regarded author of fairground history and Traveller family history books.

In this first ever published account of the Rowland family, Frances traces her ancestors’ lives as they evolve from 18th century hawkers, dealers and basket-makers to become 21st century riding-masters, one of the leading names on the British fairground.

It is available at Joyland Books at a reduced price. many of our titles are sold at a significant discount from the RRP. More: https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/fairground-destiny.htm

The Life of a Showman by Martin MacGilp is based on the Second Edition of the biography of David Prince Miller. It has been edited, with an essay and other additional material on Miller by MacGilp and is published on the Gilpress imprint.

With over 350 pages, the book has been fully-indexed, along with the addition of a genealogical chart, and 39 illustrations, some of which are being published for the first time.

This publication brings together Miller’s lively text, a new essay on Miller and his life, and additional information on his children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren, particularly those who became involved with theatricals.

https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/life-of-a-showman-miller.htm

Jean Stirling, of Penicuik, has released a memoir about her life growing up as part of a family of travelling showpeople in Scotland. Flattie tells the story of her 'merry-go-round' life on the road with her family's fair.

The book is an insight into the culture of travelling showpeople during the 1940s to 1960s, and is a personal account of this way of life. In this period, fairs opened at almost every highland games event and on miner's gala days.

Jean's life on the road was a result of her mother (who was not a traveller) meeting her Dad, who was a serving soldier in World War 2, but not being aware that he was a showman. Hence, this wonderful life began. More: https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/flattie.htm

Prolific fairground authors Kevin Scrivens and Stephen Smith have assembled another of their comprehensive ride surveys. 'Mont Blancs and Airways' divides the rides into separate chapters, listed under their owner, and provides the history of the individual ride, illustrated by black and white photos. More: https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/mont-blancs-and-airways.htm

One of the most prolific writing partnerships in the fairground world is that of Kevin Scrivens and Stephen Smith. Their books are known not only for their accuracy and interest, but also for the in-depth approach they take to each subject, aiming to produce books that become the definitive work on a specific subject.

The Famous Thurstons: An Illustrated History is their latest work. The name of Thurston is recognised amongst travelling showmen throughout Britain. As the Fairground Society published the original version of the Famous Thurstons, it seemed only right and proper that they should do it again. This is a glimpse into fairground history.

https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/famous-thurstons-an-illustrated-history.htm

Joyland Books is proud to be a supplier of independently and self-published books, that are hard to find online and in bookshops. Stamford Fairs and Markets by Keith Hansell is a perfect example of why Joyland Books exists.

Markets and annual fairs have been held in the streets of Stamford since Saxon times. Originally established for trading specific goods and livestock, they have adapted over the centuries, resulting nowadays in the Friday market and mid-Lent funfair. Keith Hansell looks at the history and origins of the Mid-Lent Fair through the great markets and fairs of the town, supported by numerous black & white photographs, many never seen before.

https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/stamford-fairs-and-markets.htm

On 28 November 1911 a retired showman died violently at his home in North London. Known to the world as Lord George Sanger, he was once the biggest name in show business, and was venerated as a national institution. He was a circus entrepreneur and co-founder of what would become Dreamland in Margate - Hall by the Sea.

The Killing of Lord George by Karl Shaw tells the story of the death of the internationally famous showman, which was reported in the newspapers and received with horror and disbelief. The brutal slaying of a defenceless old man was one thing. The idea that it was done in his own home by a trusted employee was quite another.

https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/killing-of-lord-george.htm

Great article about Battersea Fun Fair. This book is available exclusively from Joyland Books.

South London Memories: Battersea Fun Fair the fairground attraction that turned into a disaster… Battersea Fun Fair has been overlooked in the history of the Festival of Britain. But for many years, before Thorpe Park or Legoland, this was London’s amusement park and touched millions of lives …

Battersea Fun Fair 1951-1974, by Robert Preedy and Nick Laister, has been updated with a new 2023 edition, that includes new information. Available exclusively here: https://www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/battersea-fun-fair.htm