Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I was referring more to the uk
Guidebooks-Memorabilia-Windsor Safari Park.
- Thread starter Windsor Safari Park Tez
- Start date
Windsor Safari Park Tez
Active Member
I didn't there were more deaths in the UK.
Windsor Safari Park Tez
Active Member
ZooChat. Here we go for the 3rd, and final piece of my R/WSP Guide to their guides. Hop it is of use.
-oOo-
The Trident Guidebooks 1978 - 1984.
The first of the Trident Guidebooks. – 1979.
Important Note: Contrary to the information given on most web-sits, Trident most certainly “DID NOT” publish a guide for 1978. The proof is, that there are two versions of the “Snarling Tiger,” One for 1979, and another for 1980. The 79 edition measures 8¼ x “11¾” inches (A4,) while the 1980 edition is ¾ of an inch shorter, as it has been cropped at the top of the page. Logically the designers would not have produced the smaller version first in 79, and then enlarged the 1980 version, just to put the date in, and so, it “has” to be the other way around. As there are no other Trident Guidebook that can be attributed to 1978, it has also to be assumed, that Trident continued to use the last of the Smarts guides for the end of the 77 season, and throughout the year of 1978.
Note, that the top of the tiger photo is also cropped.
-oOo-
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 12. - The first 1979 Trident Guidebook, featured the “Snarling Tiger,” and was produced with a yellow title that simply read “Windsor Safari Park, while the prefix of “Royal” was dropped.
The reason for this was that the new owners, The Trident Consortium, required planning permission to extend the Dolphinarium into a much larger exhibit, incorporating new pools, one of them being a much larger third dolphinarium pool, to house an ever-growing killer whale (Freya/Winnie.) They also required new seal, otter, flamingo, and penguin enclosures.
However, the local council refused permission, unless a clause was included, to inhibit the use of the word “Royal” from all future references of the Parks name, and so after this date, the prefix “Royal” was never used again in the Parks title.
This 1979 edition also saw produced for the first-time, the larger guidebook format of 8¼ x “11¾” inches (“approx.” A4,) Which then became the standard size for all future editions, regardless of ownership. Also, the inside design of each page for this edition leaves much to be desired, with only 8 double sided colour pages, whereas each features no more than a collage of photos covering two pages, with half a page of blank space, while the text gives very little information at all, about the animals, or the park.
It is also noted, that almost half of the map references do not refer to the animals, but concentrate more on the ancillary services, such as first aid, kiosks, and lost children, etc.: Its content and information seem very sparse when compared to the 14 to 16 pages that the Smarts once produced. This edition was designed by Maria Grosso, for the John Harris Design Partnership London. Both of who would move on to greater things in the design world in the future (But this author is bewildered to see why?) This first Trident guide seems more to do with flamboyant design, rather than having any useful purpose. The cover photo was taken by Frank W Lane, and it was printed by The Print Forum, Watford. This 1979 edition is considered scarce in any condition.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 13. - The second Trident Guidebook was published in 1980. It is plain to see when comparing the two “Snarling Tiger,” versions side by side, that this 1980 edition is just under ¾ of an inch smaller than the 1979 edition, and that the original photo/edition has been cropped at the top to eliminate the date of 1979. It also shows less of the top of the tiger’s neck. The inside pages are identical to its predecessor. But it measures 8¼ x “11” inches. As a continuation of the 79 issue, it was therefore also designed by Maria Grosso of the John Harris Design Partnership London. The cover photo was taken by Frank W Lane, and was printed by Print Forum, Watford. This 1980 edition, is considered scarcer than the 79 edition, and is hard to find in any condition.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 14. - With the dolphinarium extensions completed for the summer season of 1981, and the dolphinarium was re-named “Seaworld,” and while wanting to publicise this large and significant new attraction, this year’s cover featured Freya/Winnie, the Parks second killer whale, after Ramu (III), who was sold and transferred to SeaWorld’s facility in Florida USA, in the late summer of 1976.
In keeping with the tradition of early Dolphinaria of that time, many/all most all, uses Norse/Icelandic/Inuit names. Freya was named after the Norse goddess of love and beauty (Freyja, old Norse, meaning, “Lady,”) and which supposedly was the same name in the Inuit language for “Freckle,” as Freya had one small black spot on her left white eye-patch. However, later in that same year, on the whim of the park managers “wife,” (Mrs. Walters,) her name was changed, (with great opposition,) to the more commercially sounding, “Winnie the Whale,” simply because her class of seven-year-olds thought it sounded better. Mrs. Walters and her class had no connection to the park, other than being the Managers wife.
The title of this 1980 issue read’s… “Windsor Safari Park” written in white typeface at the top of the page, and for the first time announced… “and SeaWorld,” in black lettering, to enfercise Tridents new attraction, while the background of this cover showed the blue water of the new pool. This, Tridents third edition, measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,)
Note: Thankfully, for this edition, Trident changed the designer, who completely over overhauled the editorial layout for the internal pages, which contain nine double colour pages, and with this edition, the pages were packed full of useful and relevant information, which includes many educational and informative notes, each entitled… “Did you know.” It also carried warnings of the dangers of animal to the public in six languages, which reflected the growing influx of international visitors to the park in the early eighties, and one can only speculate, had the park not gone into receivership, just how large that audience may have grown over the decades, with international transport becoming easier and cheaper?
Inside this edition the “Seaworld” pages are also noteworthy for three, of its seven pages,
1. Dave Butcher with Freya/Winnie, (bottom left,) who was the Seaworld USA Director of Training, and who developed the RIR (Random, and Interrupted Reward,) training system, which is now adopted by trainers of many different performing species of animals worldwide. His name is worth “Googling” as he is a very controversial figure in that time, of the mostly unregulated world of orca/dolphin training, a capture, whereas hundreds of creatures had died.
2. Simon Ede, (with sea-lions,) who went on after Windsor to help train and work with Keiko, who was also known as Siggi, and Kago, and who was captured in Icelandic waters in 1979. Keiko portrayed “Willy,” in the Warner Brothers film of 1993 “Free Willy.” He was moved from the Oregon Coast Aquarium, to the Mexico City Dolphinarium for the filming, as there was a dispute between the Oregon Aquarium, and Warner Bros.
3. This author with Freya/Winnie and dolphins, who became involved in conservation work, and was/is an ardent campaigner for the welfare of captive animals, and who published a successful and informative book on the subject in 2015, entitled, “Killer Whales, Tigers, Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll, - Untold Stories of Windsor Safari Park, which describes in depth, his amazing story of life behind-the-scenes at Windsor Safari Park, during the 70’s and 80’s. The large photo that shows, (from left to right,) Smartie, Lulu, and Cookie, is also noteworthy, as it was also produced as a massive 5x7 foot “photograph,” of which this author has the only copy of, and which was made in 1981.
This third Trident edition of 1981, measures 8¼ x “11¾” inches (“approx.” A4,) and (thankfully) was newly Designed by Stadden-Hughes LTD, and was printed in England by Hawthornes of Nottingham LTD. Considered scarce in any condition.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 15. -
In 1982 Trident published yet another completely re-vamped edition for their fourth Guidebook. This was re-designed around the disastrous, and rather childish character of “Safari Sam” the Lion. Something that was thought a good selling point at the time?
The new Guides typeface reads “Windsor Safari Park” with bold red and yellow lettering, and… “and Seaworld” in blue, it also features twelve small photos of the Parks animals at the foot of its cover. It measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,) and was produced by yet another new designer, Roy Thomas Publicity and Public Relations, Windsor, Berkshire. It has 12 double-sided full colour pages, with a fold-out map of the Park’s layout and grounds. This variant is considered hard to find.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 16. -
In 1983 Trident continued to issue an “almost” identical reprint of their 1882 guide throughout 1983, but with one small editing change. The place name reference at position number 34 on the map, was changed from the vague “Animal Magic,” and replaced in this edition with the equally ambiguous description of “Animalarium.” This guidebook was to be the last of the Trident editions, who then sold the Park in 1984 to Southbrook and City Holdings. Having had several print-runs for both variants over this period, (1982, & 83,) will probably accounts for the frequency that they are seen for sale, making this edition one of the most common of the WSP Guidebooks, however, all R/WSP Guidebooks still range from scarce, to exceptionally rare in varying degrees. This variation is also considered hard to find.
The Trident Consortium published five guides in all (including variants,) for the years, 79, 80, 82 and 83. There are no known example of a Guidebook ever having been issued by them for 1978 or 1981.
-oOo-
-oOo-
The Trident Guidebooks 1978 - 1984.
The first of the Trident Guidebooks. – 1979.
Note, that the top of the tiger photo is also cropped.
-oOo-
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 12. - The first 1979 Trident Guidebook, featured the “Snarling Tiger,” and was produced with a yellow title that simply read “Windsor Safari Park, while the prefix of “Royal” was dropped.
The reason for this was that the new owners, The Trident Consortium, required planning permission to extend the Dolphinarium into a much larger exhibit, incorporating new pools, one of them being a much larger third dolphinarium pool, to house an ever-growing killer whale (Freya/Winnie.) They also required new seal, otter, flamingo, and penguin enclosures.
However, the local council refused permission, unless a clause was included, to inhibit the use of the word “Royal” from all future references of the Parks name, and so after this date, the prefix “Royal” was never used again in the Parks title.
This 1979 edition also saw produced for the first-time, the larger guidebook format of 8¼ x “11¾” inches (“approx.” A4,) Which then became the standard size for all future editions, regardless of ownership. Also, the inside design of each page for this edition leaves much to be desired, with only 8 double sided colour pages, whereas each features no more than a collage of photos covering two pages, with half a page of blank space, while the text gives very little information at all, about the animals, or the park.
It is also noted, that almost half of the map references do not refer to the animals, but concentrate more on the ancillary services, such as first aid, kiosks, and lost children, etc.: Its content and information seem very sparse when compared to the 14 to 16 pages that the Smarts once produced. This edition was designed by Maria Grosso, for the John Harris Design Partnership London. Both of who would move on to greater things in the design world in the future (But this author is bewildered to see why?) This first Trident guide seems more to do with flamboyant design, rather than having any useful purpose. The cover photo was taken by Frank W Lane, and it was printed by The Print Forum, Watford. This 1979 edition is considered scarce in any condition.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 14. - With the dolphinarium extensions completed for the summer season of 1981, and the dolphinarium was re-named “Seaworld,” and while wanting to publicise this large and significant new attraction, this year’s cover featured Freya/Winnie, the Parks second killer whale, after Ramu (III), who was sold and transferred to SeaWorld’s facility in Florida USA, in the late summer of 1976.
In keeping with the tradition of early Dolphinaria of that time, many/all most all, uses Norse/Icelandic/Inuit names. Freya was named after the Norse goddess of love and beauty (Freyja, old Norse, meaning, “Lady,”) and which supposedly was the same name in the Inuit language for “Freckle,” as Freya had one small black spot on her left white eye-patch. However, later in that same year, on the whim of the park managers “wife,” (Mrs. Walters,) her name was changed, (with great opposition,) to the more commercially sounding, “Winnie the Whale,” simply because her class of seven-year-olds thought it sounded better. Mrs. Walters and her class had no connection to the park, other than being the Managers wife.
The title of this 1980 issue read’s… “Windsor Safari Park” written in white typeface at the top of the page, and for the first time announced… “and SeaWorld,” in black lettering, to enfercise Tridents new attraction, while the background of this cover showed the blue water of the new pool. This, Tridents third edition, measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,)
Note: Thankfully, for this edition, Trident changed the designer, who completely over overhauled the editorial layout for the internal pages, which contain nine double colour pages, and with this edition, the pages were packed full of useful and relevant information, which includes many educational and informative notes, each entitled… “Did you know.” It also carried warnings of the dangers of animal to the public in six languages, which reflected the growing influx of international visitors to the park in the early eighties, and one can only speculate, had the park not gone into receivership, just how large that audience may have grown over the decades, with international transport becoming easier and cheaper?
Inside this edition the “Seaworld” pages are also noteworthy for three, of its seven pages,
1. Dave Butcher with Freya/Winnie, (bottom left,) who was the Seaworld USA Director of Training, and who developed the RIR (Random, and Interrupted Reward,) training system, which is now adopted by trainers of many different performing species of animals worldwide. His name is worth “Googling” as he is a very controversial figure in that time, of the mostly unregulated world of orca/dolphin training, a capture, whereas hundreds of creatures had died.
2. Simon Ede, (with sea-lions,) who went on after Windsor to help train and work with Keiko, who was also known as Siggi, and Kago, and who was captured in Icelandic waters in 1979. Keiko portrayed “Willy,” in the Warner Brothers film of 1993 “Free Willy.” He was moved from the Oregon Coast Aquarium, to the Mexico City Dolphinarium for the filming, as there was a dispute between the Oregon Aquarium, and Warner Bros.
3. This author with Freya/Winnie and dolphins, who became involved in conservation work, and was/is an ardent campaigner for the welfare of captive animals, and who published a successful and informative book on the subject in 2015, entitled, “Killer Whales, Tigers, Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll, - Untold Stories of Windsor Safari Park, which describes in depth, his amazing story of life behind-the-scenes at Windsor Safari Park, during the 70’s and 80’s. The large photo that shows, (from left to right,) Smartie, Lulu, and Cookie, is also noteworthy, as it was also produced as a massive 5x7 foot “photograph,” of which this author has the only copy of, and which was made in 1981.
This third Trident edition of 1981, measures 8¼ x “11¾” inches (“approx.” A4,) and (thankfully) was newly Designed by Stadden-Hughes LTD, and was printed in England by Hawthornes of Nottingham LTD. Considered scarce in any condition.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 15. -
The new Guides typeface reads “Windsor Safari Park” with bold red and yellow lettering, and… “and Seaworld” in blue, it also features twelve small photos of the Parks animals at the foot of its cover. It measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,) and was produced by yet another new designer, Roy Thomas Publicity and Public Relations, Windsor, Berkshire. It has 12 double-sided full colour pages, with a fold-out map of the Park’s layout and grounds. This variant is considered hard to find.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 16. -
The Trident Consortium published five guides in all (including variants,) for the years, 79, 80, 82 and 83. There are no known example of a Guidebook ever having been issued by them for 1978 or 1981.
-oOo-
Windsor Safari Park Tez
Active Member
-oOo-
The Southbrook and City Holdings Guidebooks
1984 – 1988.
Having acquired Windsor Safari Park in the latter part of 1984, a guidebook was not produced by S&CH for their first (part,) year, but they did produce 5 guides in all, (including variations.) However, many people, including “Zoological Guidebook” collectors, mistakenly believe that only 2 guides were produced during this period. The reason for this misnomer is that the corporation used only 2 front covers, but actually commissioned two guides, with three variants, which are only distinguishable from each other, when closely studying the minor internal editorial changes made over the years. Most of these changes can clearly be seen on the maps, both topographically, and in the map-listings too, which help give clues to the many new attractions, and animal enclosures that were either added, or made redundant around the park at that time, of which there were many. Hardly noticed, these small changes have given invaluable clues and information, that have helped to “accurately date” these very similar issues, and also helps in understanding the moment of animals in the industry.
-oOo-
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 17. - In 1985 S&CH produced the first of their guides depicting another, but different “Snarling Cheetah/female Lion?” (see, Smarts 1976,) with very poorly photo-shopped shrubbery, supposedly imitating a jungle theme around its boarder. This edition has the characteristic blue and red typeface commonly used by S&CH, which also featured a large distinguishing uppercase “W” in the Parks title, something that they adopted as the 3rd new logo for the park, and which can be seen on many other items of memorabilia of their time.
On the first page of this 1985 guide, along with the introduction, there is a rather plain single-page green monochrome map, on which the reference number of 12, simply states “Chimpanzees.” (NOTE: Prior to 2023, The Bartlett Society listings also has a question mark for this entry, (?) which seems to indicate that they were not sure about this variant’s existence? Having seen all 3 variants of the “Snarling Cheetah/Lion,” the author can verify its existence.
As the front cover of this issue is identical to that used in the following year of 1986. There has been some confusion as to the year this variant (the first,) was issued, but with the identification of all 3 variations, this problem has now finally been addressed. On the opposing page (two,) there is little more than an assortment of photos of the park’s animals, and attractions. With a change of printers, this edition was Printed by Beric Tempest & Co. Ltd, St. Ives. Cornwall, who also produced some of the Park’s postcards. This guide measures 8¼ x 11¾, inches (A4,) and has 16 double-sided full colour pages. Considered very scarce.
Note: Prior to 2023, The Bartlett Society state that this version was published in 1986, but through no fault of their own, this has now proved to be incorrect.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 17a - 1985 also saw an identical re-printed front cover for a second 1985 variant for that year, which is identical through-out, with only one small exception, whereas map reference, 12 “Chimpanzees,” has newly added to it the text, in brackets, “(proposed new site.)" Note: Prior to 2023 The Bartlet Society state that this version was published in 1987, again this too is incorrect, again, through no fault of their own, this information was simple not available to study prior to 2023
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 18 – The 1986 edition is almost identical to the two variants of 1985, but has the first two pages completely re-edited to accommodate a new two-page full colour map, while at the back of the guide, the last two pages incorporate information about the new chimpanzee display, and the tropical plant enclosers, the latter being named “Tropical World,” and although both of these exhibits were featured as “new” in this edition, they had in fact, already been featured on the previous year’s 1985 two maps. In every other respect this 1986 guide, is the same as the issue for the previous year of the 1985 “second” variant. This edition was Printed by Beric Tempest & Co. Ltd, St. Ives. Cornwall, and measures 8¼ x 11¾, inches (A4,) and has 16 double-sided full colour pages.
It is presumed that both the 1985 and 1986 guides had roughly the same print-runs, although this is not known as fact. Yet regardless, once aware of the three different versions of what “appears” to be just one edition, all collectors would wish to have each as an exhibit in their own collection.
-oOo-
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 19 - 1987.
The Third Guidebook that S&CH published was in 1987, and this too had the same distinctive blue and red typeface, which was featured on a black background along with four photos, one of Frey/Winnie, one a dolphin (believed to be Honey,) the Snarling Cheetah that was used on the front cover of the previous year’s edition, and one photo promoting the new toboggan ride. It is noticeable that when comparing maps from this 1987 guide to that of the previous year, that many new attractions had been added, along with their appropriate map reference alterations. This is also true with both this 1987, and the next 1988 edition, and yet their front covers are identical.
One of the major changes to be noted in this year’s guide, was that the elephants were moved to a re-purposed enclosure built on the foundations of the old rhino house, and the rhinos were moved to the bottom of the Park, this is indicated in the map reference for this year (1987,) which is marked as number 17 “Rhino Paddock.” With this issue, the printer’s reference was omitted, but, updated, this issue carried many of the same design features, and photos of the previous guidebooks issued by S&CH in 1985 and 1986, and therefore it can reasonably be assumed that it was also printed by Beric Tempest & Co. Ltd, St. Ives. Cornwall. It measures 8¼ x 11¾, inches (A4,) and also has 16 double-sided full colour pages. This edition is considered very scarce.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 20 - 1988.
Southbrook and City Holdings published the same guide in 1988, which in essence was exactly the same as the 1987 guide, and only distinguishable by its map references, which again were extensively re-edited, with 47 entries as opposed to 46 of its predecessors, and noticeably the entry for number 17 in this issue, was changed to read “Elephant Gardens.” Although the two front covers are identical, this issue can also be dated by the photo of the mansion house that still stands in Lego Land, of which its correct name is simply “Saint Leonards,” not house, nor mansion.
As with the 1985 and 1986 issues (Nos: 17, and 18,) these two issues, 1987 and 1988, (have also been re-edited on their last two pages. The back page of the 1987 version shows “Saint Leonards” named as St Leonards “Mansion,” and the photo of it clearly shows the Pent-House on top most part of the roof. In the 1998 edition however “Saint Leonards,” has been re-named “The Mansion House,” and a new photo clearly shows that the Pent-House is no longer there, this is because it was demolished in the autumn of 1990, an insignificant piece of visual evidence, that helps to firmly dates the two guides. Again, the printer’s reference was omitted, but again, updated, it carried many of the same design features and photos of the 1985 and 1986 issues, and therefore, it too can also safely be assumed that this edition also was also printed by Beric Tempest & Co. Ltd, St. Ives. Cornwall. It measures 8¼ x 11¾, inches (A4,) and also has 16 double-sided full colour pages. This verdant is considered extremely scarce.
The two Guidebooks commissioned by Southbrook and City Holdings, were published in 1985, 1987, with two, and one variant respectively.
It also would seem that more collectors are now becoming aware of the variations that exist in several different editions of the R/WSP guidebooks, which in turn, is being reflected in a noticeable rise in prices over the last few years. It would seem that the first 1985 variant is considered extremely rare, while the second 1985 variant, and the 1986 issues are both considered very scarce, rather than rare.
-oOo-
The Southbrook and City Holdings Guidebooks
1984 – 1988.
Having acquired Windsor Safari Park in the latter part of 1984, a guidebook was not produced by S&CH for their first (part,) year, but they did produce 5 guides in all, (including variations.) However, many people, including “Zoological Guidebook” collectors, mistakenly believe that only 2 guides were produced during this period. The reason for this misnomer is that the corporation used only 2 front covers, but actually commissioned two guides, with three variants, which are only distinguishable from each other, when closely studying the minor internal editorial changes made over the years. Most of these changes can clearly be seen on the maps, both topographically, and in the map-listings too, which help give clues to the many new attractions, and animal enclosures that were either added, or made redundant around the park at that time, of which there were many. Hardly noticed, these small changes have given invaluable clues and information, that have helped to “accurately date” these very similar issues, and also helps in understanding the moment of animals in the industry.
-oOo-
On the first page of this 1985 guide, along with the introduction, there is a rather plain single-page green monochrome map, on which the reference number of 12, simply states “Chimpanzees.” (NOTE: Prior to 2023, The Bartlett Society listings also has a question mark for this entry, (?) which seems to indicate that they were not sure about this variant’s existence? Having seen all 3 variants of the “Snarling Cheetah/Lion,” the author can verify its existence.
As the front cover of this issue is identical to that used in the following year of 1986. There has been some confusion as to the year this variant (the first,) was issued, but with the identification of all 3 variations, this problem has now finally been addressed. On the opposing page (two,) there is little more than an assortment of photos of the park’s animals, and attractions. With a change of printers, this edition was Printed by Beric Tempest & Co. Ltd, St. Ives. Cornwall, who also produced some of the Park’s postcards. This guide measures 8¼ x 11¾, inches (A4,) and has 16 double-sided full colour pages. Considered very scarce.
Note: Prior to 2023, The Bartlett Society state that this version was published in 1986, but through no fault of their own, this has now proved to be incorrect.
It is presumed that both the 1985 and 1986 guides had roughly the same print-runs, although this is not known as fact. Yet regardless, once aware of the three different versions of what “appears” to be just one edition, all collectors would wish to have each as an exhibit in their own collection.
-oOo-
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 19 - 1987.
One of the major changes to be noted in this year’s guide, was that the elephants were moved to a re-purposed enclosure built on the foundations of the old rhino house, and the rhinos were moved to the bottom of the Park, this is indicated in the map reference for this year (1987,) which is marked as number 17 “Rhino Paddock.” With this issue, the printer’s reference was omitted, but, updated, this issue carried many of the same design features, and photos of the previous guidebooks issued by S&CH in 1985 and 1986, and therefore it can reasonably be assumed that it was also printed by Beric Tempest & Co. Ltd, St. Ives. Cornwall. It measures 8¼ x 11¾, inches (A4,) and also has 16 double-sided full colour pages. This edition is considered very scarce.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 20 - 1988.
As with the 1985 and 1986 issues (Nos: 17, and 18,) these two issues, 1987 and 1988, (have also been re-edited on their last two pages. The back page of the 1987 version shows “Saint Leonards” named as St Leonards “Mansion,” and the photo of it clearly shows the Pent-House on top most part of the roof. In the 1998 edition however “Saint Leonards,” has been re-named “The Mansion House,” and a new photo clearly shows that the Pent-House is no longer there, this is because it was demolished in the autumn of 1990, an insignificant piece of visual evidence, that helps to firmly dates the two guides. Again, the printer’s reference was omitted, but again, updated, it carried many of the same design features and photos of the 1985 and 1986 issues, and therefore, it too can also safely be assumed that this edition also was also printed by Beric Tempest & Co. Ltd, St. Ives. Cornwall. It measures 8¼ x 11¾, inches (A4,) and also has 16 double-sided full colour pages. This verdant is considered extremely scarce.
The two Guidebooks commissioned by Southbrook and City Holdings, were published in 1985, 1987, with two, and one variant respectively.
It also would seem that more collectors are now becoming aware of the variations that exist in several different editions of the R/WSP guidebooks, which in turn, is being reflected in a noticeable rise in prices over the last few years. It would seem that the first 1985 variant is considered extremely rare, while the second 1985 variant, and the 1986 issues are both considered very scarce, rather than rare.
-oOo-
Windsor Safari Park Tez
Active Member
-oOo-
The Themes International PLC Guidebooks 1988 – 1992.
In 1988 the Park changed ownership for a fourth and final time as a safari park, whilst being acquired by the leisure and commercial buildings developer, Themes International PLC.
At extensive costs that ran into several millions of pounds, they completely redeveloped the Park, while moving yet still further from its Safari Park origins, and more towards an African Themed Park, with a host of new rides and non-animal attractions.
They continued to use the park guide of the previous owners (S&CH,) 1988 old-stock edition guidebook, for the rest of that year.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 21. In 1989, TI-PCL produced the first guide under their ownership, which had an African themed typeface in black, on the front cover, with a distinctive red “I” in the title heading, and zebra strips to left of three photos, with a blue wavy line representing a river, to the right. The top center picture shows the new raised Elephant walk-way, and significantly below this the parks killer whale (Freya/Winnie) jumping, and at the bottom, while a little ironic, a “fiber-glass” hippopotamus showing the new boat ride.
As the front cover, “and,” page 15 of the “first” their edition, both feature the killer whale, and as the whale had to be removed from the UK in 1991, with regards to the new legation that “did not prohibited” the keeping of whales, nor even dolphins, in captivity in the UK, but the government of the time, did lay-out large size specifications for pools, and stringent welfare rules, and as the government well knew, this would inhibit any new pools being built, or modifications to old ones, on the grounds of insurmountable costs. Not until 2023 did a bill pass parliament that actually banned cetacea from being exhibited, or performing, in the UK.
It is obvious that this first guide had to have been produced between late 1988, the year TI-PCL took ownership of the park, and 1991, when the new laws came into force.
With only two months of ownership in 1988, it is highly unlikely that their first edition could ever have been produced in that year, and so their first guidebook can only have been produced in 1989.
ALSO NOTE: It is known that a “hand-out flyer” exists, which shows a map that featured Freya/Winnie, and was entitled “Your Guide to the African Adventure,” this flyer also states that there was to be new shops opened in the Moroccan Village in “1990.” This flyer also carried a two-page map that was identical to the one featured in the 1989 guidebook, and both feature the whale.
This edition had an overall busy designed front cover, which was printed on a parchment effect light-tan background. Designed and produced by K L P Design Ltd, this edition measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,) and has 18 double-sided full colour pages. It can be considered very scarce.
The 1991 Edition Themes International PLC Guidebook.
There has always been a great deal of confusion, and conjecture about the two TI-PLC park guides. The confusion being in which year either were issued, and also in which order.
Knowing the company was in ever growing financial difficulty as early as 1990, it is highly unlikely that TI-PLC would have taken on the added expense of an un-necessary guidebook for 1992.All of which means, that their second edition overwhelmingly was most likely to have been published in 1991. Especially when taking into account the “pamphlet” evidence listed below.
R/WSP GUIDEBOOK No: 22. The second guidebook produced by TI PLC in 1991, was to be the last true Windsor Safari Park Guidebook. It was almost identical to the previous year’s edition, but the central photo of the front cover was changed from that of Freya/Winnie, to the new Moroccan village, which they now wanted to promote, but which was possibly the most un-successful attraction of the new African Adventure Theme Park? Also, there are two editorial changes within, which have helped to give a concise date for this publication.
Page 15 consists of a two-page spread devoted to only dolphins, whereas the earlier 1989 edition had one page for the killer whale, and another for dolphins. This page was re-edited with one photo change, and new text which omit any reference to the killer whale, and had a new heading of “Seaworld Show,” which was changed from the earlier 1989 edition of “Killer Whale.” Also, the text on page 33 devoted to “Themed Attractions,” was also edited to publicise the completion of the new Egyptians entrance, and the Moroccan village. It also announced the future “Port Livingstone” attraction. However, a pamphlet that was later produced and issued in the winter of 91/92 entitled “Your Winter Guide to the African Adventure,” stated that the Port Livingstone attraction would not now be open until Easter of 1992.
This was the first public tell-tail sign that the company was in finical difficulty. This pamphlet also carried an identical map to that featured in this second TI-PLC issued guidebook edition, which presented dolphins rather than a killer whale. With this evidence it is safe to assume that this second guide must therefore have been produced in 1991.
The new edition TI-PLC guidebook map was also extensively re-edited both textually and graphically. In the 1989 guide, the map shows a killer whale at position at position 43, whereas in the 1991 issue the whale has been replaced altogether with a dolphin, and assigned the new reference number of 37, for the “SeaWorld Show,” also note, that in the 1989 guide there were 68 map references, which was reduced to 63 in the 1991 edition. Designed and produced by K L P Design Ltd, this edition again measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,) and has 18 double-sided full colour pages. This edition is considered hard to find, rather than rare.
Also in 1991, a fourth separate Dolphinarium/SeaWorld guidebook was produced for the park by TI PLC, the first since the days of the Smarts. The standard TI PLC design of the front cover has the title “THE DOLPHINS AT WINDSOR,” while the large photo consists of Lulu, the smaller Honey, and beneath this it reads… “THE SEAWORLD ADVENTURE.” There is also a list of the dolphins that were housed at Windsor in 199o/1? Namely Honey, Prince, Apollo, Juno, Smartie, Lulu, Neptune, and Miai.
Note: During this authors tenure, he lost four dolphins, Snappie, Dinky, Jenkie, and Cookie. Prince and Lady were named in honor of the royal wedding in 1981, by this author. Lady is not on the cover list, so must have been transferred or died.
This last Dolphinarium Guide, consists of 11 full size colour pages, measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,) while printed, designed, and Produced by Splash of Paint Ltd, Reading, Berkshire. It is extremely rare.
In all, Themes International PLC produced 2 guidebooks for the years 1989 and 1991. They did not issue any guides for 1988, nor 1990. They also produced a separate SeaWorld dolphin guide in 1991, as mentioned above.
-oOo-
From 1991, no new Guidebooks were published as such, however, to keep costs low in their final year before entering receivership, in January of 1992, with debts amounting to over £40m. Themes International did publish many cheaper to produce, pamphlet type hand-out guides, along with advertising hand-outs. From a collector’s perspective, so far, these have had little intrinsic value, “as yet,” but there is no doubt, that simply because fewer examples have survived the ravages of time, such ephemeral memorabilia, produced throughout Windsor Safari Parks history, will become scarcer collector’s items in the future, and certainly will command higher prices.
-oOo-
In general, over the decades, most Windsor Safari Park memorabilia had easily been obtained for just a few pounds, however, it is noticeable that over the last few years, especially regarding transient paper memorabilia, which now has become much harder to find, particularly in mint condition. Therefore, as a consequence, prices have risen dramatically. It is also worth noting here, that Book-shops, online or otherwise, do tend to categories and sensibly price R/WSP Guidebooks, as they would any other form of Guidebook, whereas many private sellers, now often ask inflated prices that can range from double a bookshop price, or more. Yet there is a small but ever-growing number of collectors of menagerie guidebooks, that will willingly pay high prices for them. Unfortunately, in many cases this does tends to give a false impression of the true value of Windsor Safari Parks guidebooks and their rarity. It is hoped that this guide to Windsor Safari Park Guidebooks, might help to address this problem. Good luck, and happy collecting.
As a foot-note to the demise of the park as an animal experience, TI PLC must have known how expensive it would be to build a new much larger pool for SeaWorld, if they wished to carry on exhibiting the dolphin shows, something which had always been the parks most lucrative attraction, and as they were in deep financial trouble already, losing the dolphin show would probably have been the final nail in the coffin. Visitors and staff alike were on the cusp of losing the biggest “animal day-visit attraction” in the UK, which would eventually be replaced by Lego Land Windsor, who promptly built many plastic animals, that in turn became attractions too.
This author firmly believes that… “There are no Cetacea that belong in our world of entertainment and commerce, to keep any sentient being in captivity, other than for its own well being, is nothing more than human selfishness.” Yet still, there was much good done by so many all those decades ago, “Save the Whale,” was the first clarion call that helped to awaken and unite the world to animal cruelty, and R/WSP “secretly” helped so much in that endeavor, supplying “Sea Shepherd,” with fuel and finance, was just one of many “undercover” projects. Yet! A part of human society that was utterly unique was lost and forgotten in that tumults change in human thinking. Today's, and future generations, will decide for themselves the good and bad of an amazing collection of animals and people that was once called…
“ROYAL WINDSOR SAFARI PARK.”
© T. M. Bobrowicz.
ZooChat. Note: This author has also written an interesting and accurate “Historical Time Line.” Regarding the history of St. Leonards Hill itself, on which R/WSP was built, and the “Two” mansion houses, around which R/WSP and Lego Land was built. I hope to publish this a later date in the “Resources” section of this group for safe keeping, and interest.
The Themes International PLC Guidebooks 1988 – 1992.
In 1988 the Park changed ownership for a fourth and final time as a safari park, whilst being acquired by the leisure and commercial buildings developer, Themes International PLC.
At extensive costs that ran into several millions of pounds, they completely redeveloped the Park, while moving yet still further from its Safari Park origins, and more towards an African Themed Park, with a host of new rides and non-animal attractions.
They continued to use the park guide of the previous owners (S&CH,) 1988 old-stock edition guidebook, for the rest of that year.
As the front cover, “and,” page 15 of the “first” their edition, both feature the killer whale, and as the whale had to be removed from the UK in 1991, with regards to the new legation that “did not prohibited” the keeping of whales, nor even dolphins, in captivity in the UK, but the government of the time, did lay-out large size specifications for pools, and stringent welfare rules, and as the government well knew, this would inhibit any new pools being built, or modifications to old ones, on the grounds of insurmountable costs. Not until 2023 did a bill pass parliament that actually banned cetacea from being exhibited, or performing, in the UK.
It is obvious that this first guide had to have been produced between late 1988, the year TI-PCL took ownership of the park, and 1991, when the new laws came into force.
With only two months of ownership in 1988, it is highly unlikely that their first edition could ever have been produced in that year, and so their first guidebook can only have been produced in 1989.
ALSO NOTE: It is known that a “hand-out flyer” exists, which shows a map that featured Freya/Winnie, and was entitled “Your Guide to the African Adventure,” this flyer also states that there was to be new shops opened in the Moroccan Village in “1990.” This flyer also carried a two-page map that was identical to the one featured in the 1989 guidebook, and both feature the whale.
This edition had an overall busy designed front cover, which was printed on a parchment effect light-tan background. Designed and produced by K L P Design Ltd, this edition measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,) and has 18 double-sided full colour pages. It can be considered very scarce.
The 1991 Edition Themes International PLC Guidebook.
There has always been a great deal of confusion, and conjecture about the two TI-PLC park guides. The confusion being in which year either were issued, and also in which order.
Knowing the company was in ever growing financial difficulty as early as 1990, it is highly unlikely that TI-PLC would have taken on the added expense of an un-necessary guidebook for 1992.All of which means, that their second edition overwhelmingly was most likely to have been published in 1991. Especially when taking into account the “pamphlet” evidence listed below.
Page 15 consists of a two-page spread devoted to only dolphins, whereas the earlier 1989 edition had one page for the killer whale, and another for dolphins. This page was re-edited with one photo change, and new text which omit any reference to the killer whale, and had a new heading of “Seaworld Show,” which was changed from the earlier 1989 edition of “Killer Whale.” Also, the text on page 33 devoted to “Themed Attractions,” was also edited to publicise the completion of the new Egyptians entrance, and the Moroccan village. It also announced the future “Port Livingstone” attraction. However, a pamphlet that was later produced and issued in the winter of 91/92 entitled “Your Winter Guide to the African Adventure,” stated that the Port Livingstone attraction would not now be open until Easter of 1992.
This was the first public tell-tail sign that the company was in finical difficulty. This pamphlet also carried an identical map to that featured in this second TI-PLC issued guidebook edition, which presented dolphins rather than a killer whale. With this evidence it is safe to assume that this second guide must therefore have been produced in 1991.
The new edition TI-PLC guidebook map was also extensively re-edited both textually and graphically. In the 1989 guide, the map shows a killer whale at position at position 43, whereas in the 1991 issue the whale has been replaced altogether with a dolphin, and assigned the new reference number of 37, for the “SeaWorld Show,” also note, that in the 1989 guide there were 68 map references, which was reduced to 63 in the 1991 edition. Designed and produced by K L P Design Ltd, this edition again measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,) and has 18 double-sided full colour pages. This edition is considered hard to find, rather than rare.
Note: During this authors tenure, he lost four dolphins, Snappie, Dinky, Jenkie, and Cookie. Prince and Lady were named in honor of the royal wedding in 1981, by this author. Lady is not on the cover list, so must have been transferred or died.
This last Dolphinarium Guide, consists of 11 full size colour pages, measures 8¼ x 11¾ inches (A4,) while printed, designed, and Produced by Splash of Paint Ltd, Reading, Berkshire. It is extremely rare.
In all, Themes International PLC produced 2 guidebooks for the years 1989 and 1991. They did not issue any guides for 1988, nor 1990. They also produced a separate SeaWorld dolphin guide in 1991, as mentioned above.
-oOo-
From 1991, no new Guidebooks were published as such, however, to keep costs low in their final year before entering receivership, in January of 1992, with debts amounting to over £40m. Themes International did publish many cheaper to produce, pamphlet type hand-out guides, along with advertising hand-outs. From a collector’s perspective, so far, these have had little intrinsic value, “as yet,” but there is no doubt, that simply because fewer examples have survived the ravages of time, such ephemeral memorabilia, produced throughout Windsor Safari Parks history, will become scarcer collector’s items in the future, and certainly will command higher prices.
-oOo-
In general, over the decades, most Windsor Safari Park memorabilia had easily been obtained for just a few pounds, however, it is noticeable that over the last few years, especially regarding transient paper memorabilia, which now has become much harder to find, particularly in mint condition. Therefore, as a consequence, prices have risen dramatically. It is also worth noting here, that Book-shops, online or otherwise, do tend to categories and sensibly price R/WSP Guidebooks, as they would any other form of Guidebook, whereas many private sellers, now often ask inflated prices that can range from double a bookshop price, or more. Yet there is a small but ever-growing number of collectors of menagerie guidebooks, that will willingly pay high prices for them. Unfortunately, in many cases this does tends to give a false impression of the true value of Windsor Safari Parks guidebooks and their rarity. It is hoped that this guide to Windsor Safari Park Guidebooks, might help to address this problem. Good luck, and happy collecting.
As a foot-note to the demise of the park as an animal experience, TI PLC must have known how expensive it would be to build a new much larger pool for SeaWorld, if they wished to carry on exhibiting the dolphin shows, something which had always been the parks most lucrative attraction, and as they were in deep financial trouble already, losing the dolphin show would probably have been the final nail in the coffin. Visitors and staff alike were on the cusp of losing the biggest “animal day-visit attraction” in the UK, which would eventually be replaced by Lego Land Windsor, who promptly built many plastic animals, that in turn became attractions too.
This author firmly believes that… “There are no Cetacea that belong in our world of entertainment and commerce, to keep any sentient being in captivity, other than for its own well being, is nothing more than human selfishness.” Yet still, there was much good done by so many all those decades ago, “Save the Whale,” was the first clarion call that helped to awaken and unite the world to animal cruelty, and R/WSP “secretly” helped so much in that endeavor, supplying “Sea Shepherd,” with fuel and finance, was just one of many “undercover” projects. Yet! A part of human society that was utterly unique was lost and forgotten in that tumults change in human thinking. Today's, and future generations, will decide for themselves the good and bad of an amazing collection of animals and people that was once called…
“ROYAL WINDSOR SAFARI PARK.”
© T. M. Bobrowicz.
ZooChat. Note: This author has also written an interesting and accurate “Historical Time Line.” Regarding the history of St. Leonards Hill itself, on which R/WSP was built, and the “Two” mansion houses, around which R/WSP and Lego Land was built. I hope to publish this a later date in the “Resources” section of this group for safe keeping, and interest.
Thanks for all your hard work compiling this information - as soon as you have sent the various photographs needing to be uploaded to my email address, I will edit the thread to include these images
The question mark next to this listing (as with other examples elsewhere in the overall Bartlett Society guidebook list) pertains to whether or not copies exist within the personal collections of one or more members of the Society
Windsor Safari Park Tez
Active Member
TeaLovingDave. Will get to it asp, old love.
Windsor Safari Park Tez
Active Member
TealovingDave. Are we saying here that the Society Confirms it's existence, but is not sure if a member has a copy?
That's correct - the section of the list with letter codes and (in this case) a question mark is used to note how many members are known to hold a copy of a given guidebook, and hence who should be consulted if information is needed from said guidebook.
Windsor Safari Park Tez
Active Member
That's interesting, thank you for that update. still working on photos.
Windsor Safari Park Tez
Active Member
Just a short note to inform those interested that I have not forgotten you, but still working on "the new discovery" and up-date for the Guide on R/WSP Guidebooks.