1845 Collection

VARINA HOWELL DAVIS (1826-1906). Second wife of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America. Miniature, c1845

HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, 1845
Engraving showing HMS Erebus (left) and HMS Terror, pictured on the River Thames, 1845. In 1845 the British Admiralty sent two polar exploration ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror

Erebus and Terror, Franklins last trip
The Erebus and Terror leave England on the Franklin polar expedition, never to return

Captain Francis Crozier of HMS Terror, 1845
Engraving of Captain Francis Crozier (1796-1848) of HMS Terror, pictured shortly before departing on the ill-fated Franklin Arctic expedition of 1845

Singing Auld Lang Syne
The song of many happy people and sentimental drunks upon New Years Eve, Auld Lang Syne, a traditional air with words by Robert Burns

Queen Victoria
QUEEN VICTORIA Circa 1845

Plan of ship SS Great Britain
Illustrations showing a side cutaway view and an overhead view of Brunel's steamship SS Great Britain, launched in 1843. Date: 1845

Exminster Asylum, Devon
The administrative building of the Exminster Asylum, opened in 1845 as the Devon County Lunatic Asylum. It was later known as the Devon County Mental Hospital, then as Exminster Hospital

Captain Sir John Franklin (1786-1847)
Engraving of Captain Sir John Franklin in his Royal Navy uniform, pictured shortly before departing on his ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845

LANCASTER CASTLE, Lancashire
Lancaster Castle, Lancashire, with some kind of social event going on in the grounds. Date: 1845

Four ballerinas on a music sheet
Four ballerinas depicted on a music sheet, performing The Celebrated Pas de Quatre, composed by Jules Perrot, as danced at Her Majestys Theatre, London, on 12 July 1845

Tsar Alexander III and family
Tsar Alexander III (1845-1894) at the Livadia Palace, Yalta with his family. From left; the Tsarevich Nicholas (later Tsar Nicholas II), Grand Prince Georgi Alexandrovich, Tsaritsa Maria Feodorovna

The Enterprise and Investigator surrounded by ice, Barro
Engraving showing the Enterprise and Investigator surrounded by pack ice in Barrows Straits, September 1849. These two ships were used by Sir James Clark Rosss Expedition of 1848-1849 to search

The End of Sir John Franklins Arctic Expedition, 1845
Engraving showing the end of Sir John Franklins ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845, entitled They Forged the last link with their lives. This engraving was taken from a painting by W

Franklins expedition seeking Northwest Passage
Seals and sea-birds watch as Sir John Franklins Erebus and Terror sail cautiously between Arctic icebergs

The Block / Felix on Bat
Home Block

Virginia Poe
VIRGINIA POE wife of Edgar Allan Poe, died of tuberculosis at age 23, thus hastening her husbands insanity

Andrew Jackson / On Horse
Andrew Jackson 7th president of the United States

Macdonald of Glenco, from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, pub. 1845 (colour lithograph)

Grasmere Water, Cumberland (1845). Moore, James 1819 - 1883. Date: 1845

Blackheath Shinty
Members of the Club of True Highlanders play shinty (here called shinnie) on the Heath, which is still the scene of much sporting activity at weekends

GRAVESEND
The terrace new pier at Gravesend, Kent

Norwich Castle / C1845
Norwich Castle, Norfolk: view from the south-west

Fox Talbot Studio
The studio of W H Fox Talbot at Reading : he is the figure standing on the right

Poe / Poem / The Raven / C19Th
Quoth the raven, Nevermore

Andrew Jackson President
ANDREW JACKSON 7th American President

Malta / Valletta 1845
View of Valletta

Poe / Raven Flies In / Dore
A stately Raven of the saintly days of yore flies in through an open window

Punch / Corn Law / Coventgdn
CORN LAWS Purifying Covent Garden Theatre

Mount Lebanon / Cedars
Mount Lebanon: the famous cedars

Wolverton Station royal reception
The reception room at Wolverton train Station, redecorated in honour of Queen Victoria and Prince Alberts visit to the Duke of Buckingham in 1845

Ludwig Ii / Grendamour
KING LUDWIG II OF BAVARIA As a young man - he reigned from March 1864 until June 1886

Poe / Poem / The Raven / C19Th
The dazed & melancholy man believes the raven will leave him, as his " hopes have flown before."

2nd Earl Grey / Lawrence
Right Honourable Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey Member of Parliament

Elizabeth Fry (Bibby s)
ELIZABETH FRY - Prison reformer, quaker and philanthropist

Color lithograph, 1845, by James Ackerman after George Catlin
SIOUX LACROSSE PLAYERS. Color lithograph, 1845, by James Ackerman after George Catlin

Elvira. Costume design for the opera Ernani by Giuseppe Verdi, 1845. Found in the collection of Bibliotheque Nationale de France

The New Standard Theatre, 1845
The New Standard Theatre in Shoreditch, London, showing an equestrian spectacle taking place on stage in 1845, the year that the theatre first opened

STAMP, 1845. New York Postmasters Provisional Stamp

Orlando, a Bay Racehorse in a Loosebox, 1845 (oil on panel)
824227 Orlando, a Bay Racehorse in a Loosebox, 1845 (oil on panel) by Herring Snr, John Frederick (1795-1865); 34.9x45.1 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Orlando, a Bay Racehorse in a Loosebox)

Old Houses on North Side of Gallowgate, near Spoutmouth, 1845 (engraving)
5210037 Old Houses on North Side of Gallowgate, near Spoutmouth, 1845 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Old Houses on North Side of Gallowgate)

Chamonix and Mont Blanc, France
Mont Blanc viewed from Le Jardin. 1845

Windermere Lake (1845). Moore, James 1819 - 1883. Date: 1845

MOUNT SINAI: MONASTERY. Saint Catherines Monastery at Mount Sinai, Egypt. Lithograph by Louis Haghe, c1845, after a painting by David Roberts

Cranbourne Street, London, 1845
Engraving showing Cranbourne Street, London, in 1845, shortly after a number of improvements to the area

Bullion Office. Bank of England. Chopper for Light Sovereign
Engraving of a mechanical chopper used to deface gold coins, which were under weight. In June 1842 the Bank of England recalled millions of gold sovereigns which through wear had lost weight

Map of North America, 1845
Map of North America, showing the United States as they were pre-Civil War, 1845

George Parr, English cricketer, circa 1845
Illustration of George Parr (1826-1891), the cricketer who represented Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent and the MCC between 1844 and 1870

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In the year 1845, two mighty ships set sail into the unknown. The HMS Erebus and HMS Terror embarked on what would become Captain Francis Crozier's final journey. As they ventured through treacherous waters in search of the elusive Northwest Passage, little did they know that their fate was sealed. Onboard these vessels, brave souls sang Auld Lang Syne, bidding farewell to loved ones and embracing the uncertainty that lay ahead. Queen Victoria herself had high hopes for this expedition, as she eagerly awaited news of their triumphant return. Inspired by Isambard Kingdom Brunel's plan for the SS Great Britain, Franklin's crew aimed to conquer uncharted territories with sheer determination. However, nature had other plans in store for them. The Enterprise and Investigator soon found themselves trapped amidst icy barriers near Barrow. Meanwhile, back in Exminster Asylum in Devon, minds were plagued with worry over the safety of those aboard these ill-fated ships. The Block/Felix on Bat depicted scenes of despair and isolation within its haunting walls. Captain Sir John Franklin led his men fearlessly but tragically succumbed to his icy surroundings in 1847. His legacy lives on as a symbol of resilience and exploration despite overwhelming odds. The Lancaster Castle stands tall in Lancashire as a reminder of this historic chapter; it witnessed both hope and heartbreak during Franklin's quest for glory. Though their mission may have ended in tragedy, let us remember those who dared to venture into uncharted waters - forever etched into history as pioneers seeking passage where none had gone before.