Bertram Mills Circus was arguably the best-known circus in the UK by the time that this puzzle was issued, producing spectacular Christmas shows at Olympia that attracted a wide range of audience members, from ordinary families to aristocracts, politicians and royalty. Mills was a great showman and publicist, in the early days throwing lavish annual pre-show lunches for those he considered VIPs who would attend his shows and help elevate the reputation of circus generally and his shows in particular.

An advertisement from a 1953 programme shows that Bertram Mills would have commissioned these puzzles and sold them at the circus or by post from Bertram Mills’ London headquarters: ‘The Circus in Jig-saw! Souvenir Jig-Saw Puzzles of Circus Scenes in Colour, Over 200 pieces fully interlocking. Obtainable from the Programme Sellers and Usherettes. Price 2/1 each, or post free 2/6 each from: - Bertram Mills Circus, 1, Dorset Square, London NW1. The box lists four different jigsaws in the 'New Series' - Bertram Mills Clowns, number 1; Bertram Mills Elephants, number 2; Bertram Mills Tigers, number 3, and Davy Crockett & the Mowhawks. This is puzzle Number 1.

Bertram Mills produced his first Olympia circus at Christmas 1920, and his sons Bertram and Cyril took over the business after their father's death in 1938. Bertram Mills' produced some of their finest shows in the 1950s, but rising costs and a reluctance to increase ticket prices meant the closure in October 1964 of their tenting show that travelled the country during the summer months. Their 1965-1966 Christmas show was their last at London's Olympia

The illustration on this puzzle was by Leon Crossley, the graphic artist who produced images for Bertram Mills' publicity for over 40 years. It features two of the circus's most famous clowns, Coco the red-rosed 'auguste' in his baggy checked suit and oversized shoes, and the elegant Percy Huxter, the white-faced clown with his conical hat, white tights and elegant sequinned one-piece costume or 'sac'.