1853 Gallery

Indian Smoothbore.656 in musket, Pattern 1858

Indian Smoothbore.656 in musket, Pattern 1858, lock dated 1856.Converted from a Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket in India 1858 (c), this exceptionally rare item was part of an original issue of 10, 000 weapons sold by the British Government to the East Indian Company in 1856. These weapons were a contributory cause of the Indian Mutiny because of the belief that animal fat had been incorporated in the grease for the cartridges. After the Mutiny, most Indian troops were issued with smooth-bore muskets which at the same time were to look similar to Enfield rifles. In this case the original rifling was bored out and a locally-made ramrod fitted. Also, a simple fixed backsight replaced the graduated rear sight of the Enfield.Now in poor condition, it is identified by the faint stamp on the butt of the EIC lion rampant regardment and holding the crown. In addition the initials WD (War Department) over the broad arrow combined with I (India) and the date 1856 are present. The weapon was subsequently bored smooth and re-sighted to conform with the pattern 1858-1859.656in muskets for Native Infantry. Date: 1858

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library

Solar system map from 1853

Historical map of the solar system, published in Germany in 1853. The main diagram shows the orbits of the first seven planets out to Uranus. Neptune had been discovered in 1846, but is only shown on the list at upper left. Pluto was not discovered until 1930. The phases of the Moon are illustrated at lower left. Details of Saturn's rings are shown at upper right, while conjunctions of Mercury and Venus are shown at lower right. The main diagram, drawn to scale, shows how the inner solar system is tiny when compared to the vast distances of the outer solar system. The highly elliptical orbits of comets are shown, as well as the asteroid belt

© DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

BESSIERES, Jean-Baptiste (1768-1813). Marshal of

BESSIERES, Jean-Baptiste (1768-1813). Marshal of the French Empire. Duke of Istria. He fought with Napoleon in the campaigns of Egypt, Spain and Russia. 1853 portrait by Henri-Fran篩s Riesener (1767-1828), after original by Pierre-Alexandre Edmond Hedouin (1820-1889). Romanticism. Oil on canvas. FRANCE. ΌE-DE-FRANCE. YVELINES. Versailles. Palace of Versailles

© Iberfoto/Mary Evans