Back Ground Collection (page 19)

A Summer Morning In France by Blampied
An illustration by Edmund Blampied or Blam of a morning game of golf taking place with the sun rising in the background. Blampied (1886-1966) drew countless illustrations for the ILN magazines

Captured frogs bid for Freedom
A young schoolboy in his full school uniform get a nasty surprise when the frog he has captured makes a daring bid for freedom, leaping out and away as soon as the airhole-added lid has been lifted

A young boy with British officers in Kumasi, 1874
The last in Kumasi - a young boy eating bananas while a British officer tries to talk to him. In the background, the British troops are marching away

The Last Part of Old Fleet Prison, London, 1868
Engraving showing the last remains of Old Fleet Prison, comprising a facade of three archways, London, 1868. In the background a train runs along a railway viaduct and the dome of St

Fog in the Streets of London, 1867
Engraving showing a street scene during a heavy fog in London, January 1867. This image shows a large number of pedestrians, some of them carrying torches to light their way

Westminster Bridge, London, 1855
Engraving showing a view of Westminster Bridge, from the South bank of the River Thames, 1855. Several sailing barges, loaded with hay, can be seen in the foreground

London and Westminster in 1584
Engraving showing an aerial view of London (background), Westminster (foreground) and the River Thames in 1584

The Voyage of Cleopatras Needle to England, 1878
Engraving showing the obelisk ship Cleopatra (nearest) and its tug, in the background, crossing the Bay of Biscay on passage from Egypt to London, 1878

London Zoo, Whit Monday, 1866
Engraving showing the crowd of visitors at the Zoological Societys Gardens (London Zoo) in Regents Park, 1866. On the right of the picture are the cages of the big carnivores (lions)

The Embankment, London, 1932
Photograph showing the Embankment, on the North bank of the River Thames, London, 1932. In the foreground is the sailing-ship Friendship

Mountain farm in County Mayo, Ireland
Sketch from Ireland showing the harrowing difficulty of cultivating on a mountain farm in County Mayo. A peasant man and woman use a horse in their attempts to plough the rocky slopes

Fisher folk awaiting a boat, 1895
Engraving showing a scene on a beach as a group of women and fishermen await the arrival of a boat. In the distance heavy breakers show that strong weather is involved

Find the Man Who Has Enlisted
A propagandist illustration during World War One contrasting the pride and satisfaction of the man who has enlisted to join up, with the shame of one who has not

A Procession entering Hyde Park, 1890
Engraving showing a procession entering Hyde Park, with the Marble Arch in the background, London, 1890

The Finish of the Royal London Yacht Club Match, Greenwich
Engraving showing the yacht Julia winning the Royal London Yacht Club Match by being first past the mark, River Thames off Greenwich, London, 1858

Blackfriars Bridge, London, 1869
Engraving showing the then-new Blackfriars Bridge, spanning the River Thames, London, 1869. St. Pauls Cathedral is clearly visible in the background

Sailing Barge off Norris Castle, Isle of Wight, 1833
Engraving showing a sailing barge in the Solent, with Norris Castle on the Isle of Wight in the background, 1833. Norris Castle was the residence of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and her mother

Railway Works at Blackfriars, London, 1864
Engraving showing the temporary bridge built over the River Thames at Blackfriars, during the construction of the railway line north through Blackfriars and Ludgate Hill, 1864. St

Sailing Canoe Race in the Solent, 1871
Engraving showing a race held between sailing canoes (or miniature yachts ) in the Solent, off Hampshire, 1871. In the background a steamer, full of spectators, is visible

Homeless Berliners walking through Nollendorf Platz, 1945
Photograph showing a group of Berliners walking past the ruins of Nollendorf Platz looking for a place to live, after the end of the Second World War, Summer 1945

English Girls playing Diabolo on a roof in Tabriz, Iran, 1
Illustration showing two English girls playing Diabolo on a roof in Tabriz, Iran, 1908. In the background an artillery gun, manned by Persian Revolutionaries

Church Service on the Western Front, 1916
Illustration showing a group of British soldiers holding a church service on a Sunday, somewhere on the Western Front in France, 1916

Coventry Burning after an Air-raid; Second World War, 1940
Photograph showing one of the main streets of Coventry, still burning after a German air-raid, 1940. In the background a group of fire-fighters pump water onto one of the blazes

Elephants at the Zoo
Two boys enjoy themselves feeding sweets to elephants at the zoo. Caged lions are seen in the background. All in all, hardly an ecological showcase

Scene at the Circus, c. 1891
Engraving showing a scene at a circus, as a distraught performer or impressario explains to a member of the public: My show is mirackoolous, is marvallous, is krandeeose, is doo kreat for small mann

Raising the Circus Tent, c. 1886
Engraving showing the raising of the big top as a circus arrives in an English country town, c.1886. The two men in the foreground are shown driving a stake into the ground

Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch (1863-1944)
Photographic portrait of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, the English writer, pictured in the early 1940 s. Sir Arthur was a Professor of English Literature at Cambridge University

Bazaar at Kadikol, near Balaklava, Crimean War, 1856
Engraving of busy street scene at Balaklava at the end of the Crimean war. Soldiers and civilians jostle together, some on horseback, civilians in typical russian dress, caps and belted long coats

Truck sunk during the Anzio landings; Second World War, 1944
Photograph showing a three-ton truck sunk alongside a pontoon, during the Allied landings in the Nettuno-Anzio area, 1944

Russian Cavalry Entering Balaklava, end of the Crimean War
Engraving showing Russian cavalry re-entering Balaklava, as British troops pulled out, at the end of the Crimean War, 1856. The fort can be seen in the background

General Montgomery reading the lesson, France; Second World
Photograph showing General Montgomery (1887-1976), reading the lesson at an outdoor Church service in France, 1944. In the right background is the first mobile motor Church

Gatow Airport, Berlin, 1948
Photograph showing a York transport airplane at Gatow Airport, during the Berlin Airlift, 1948. In the background of the image, extension work on the runway can be seen being undertaken

German Boys on a disused Railway, Berlin, 1948
Photograph showing two German boys playing on a railway track leading into the American Sector of West Berlin, November 1948

Port Madryn, Nuevo Gulf, Patagonia, 1887
Engraving of the coast-line of Port Madryn, with a schooner in the foreground and a steam train in the background, a remote area of South America (now Argentina)

Toilettes de Promenade
Two women modelling winter fashions for promenading outdoors. A car can be seen in the background

Dryden / Fountain Pen Ad
An advertisement for L & C Hardtmuths fountain pen, showing the pens as supports for a bridge with skyscrapers in the background

The Dutch Arctic Expedition at Zeeuwsche Uitkyk, North Spitz
Engraving showing members of the Dutch Arctic Expedition ashore at Zeeuwsche Uitkyk, North Spitzbergen during 1878. The expeditions schooner Willem Barents can be seen in the background

The Main Base, Australian Antarctic Expedition, 1913
Photograph of the main base of Australian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-14, Adelie Land, Antarctica, 1913. The stores and wireless telegraph poles can be seen in the foreground

Indian Immigrants at Vancouver Docks, Canada, 1907
Photograph showing a group of Hindu Indians arriving in Canada, with the docks in the background, Vancouver, 1907. This group disembarked from the steamer Monteagle

A gathering of Cree Indians, c. 1870
Image showing a group of male Prairie Cree Indians smoking long pipes and talking together. The Cree are wearing fringed buckskin and feathers in their hair

Cutting a channel through the ice, Arctic, c. 1849
Engraving of an imaginary scene showing a British Arctic expedition in the Arctic, c.1849. The engraving shows a group of men cutting a channel through the ice so that their ship

Emigrants queuing for Berth Numbers on their ship, Gravesend
Engraving showing emigrant passengers being allocated berth numbers at the beginning of a voyage to Australia, 1887. In the background of the image

Aerial view of the Capitol, Washington, 1861
Engraving showing an aerial view of the Capitol, when under construction in 1861. The famous Capitol dome and Western wing are scaffolded and incomplete

British Paratroops on exercise in England; Second World War
Photograph showing a group of British paratroops readying themselves after landing, during an exercise taking place in England in 1944

HMS Alert towing HMS Discovery through Icebergs, British
Engraving showing HMS Alert towing HMS Discovery through icebergs, with Disco Island in the background, as seen from HMS Valorous (left foreground) during the British Arctic Expedition of 1875-1876

San Francisco, California, 1850
Engraving showing San Francisco, viewed from the South-West, 1850. Founded as a gold rush town, San Francisco had a population of only 10-15, 000 people at this time

Women Cyclists in a City, 1892
Engraving showing two women cyclists on their tricycles, pedalling along a busy road. In the background can be seen a hanson cab and a horse-drawn omnibus

Breaking up of the ice, Arctic, c. 1849
Engraving of an imaginary scene showing a British Arctic expedition in the Arctic, c.1849. The engraving shows a group of men standing on the rapidly breaking up ice pack

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"Unveiling the Rich Tapestry of Background: From Chesterfield to Machu Picchu" Step into the enchanting world of background, where captivating stories unfold against various backdrops. Explore the picturesque landscapes of England's charming town, Chesterfield, as it sets the stage for extraordinary tales. Intriguingly, an advert for Sandeman Port transports us to exotic destinations like never before. Join Colonel Norton on his daring expedition to Mount Everest in 1924, standing tall at a staggering 28, 000 ft. The sheer audacity and determination leave us awe-inspired. Venturing further into cultural realms, we stumble upon Little India's vibrant streets adorned with pictures of Hindu Gods for sale. Each deity whispers ancient legends and spiritual wisdom that captivate our senses. Delving deeper into the mysteries of existence, we encounter the cosmic microwave background - a celestial symphony echoing remnants from time immemorial. Its ethereal presence reminds us of our place in this vast universe. Artistic wonders unfurl as we gaze upon a famous painting depicting winged heads of 80 Ethiopian cherubs adorning a grand ceiling. Their divine beauty transcends boundaries and invites contemplation on art's ability to transport souls beyond mortal confines. History comes alive through Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim's unlikely friendship captured in an evocative photograph from c. 1890. This remarkable bond challenges societal norms while showcasing humanity's capacity for connection across cultures. The coastal charm beckons us next as Southend-On-Sea reveals its red English post box nestled within a rustic brick wall—a symbol both nostalgic and enduring amidst changing times. Transporting ourselves back to wartime Britain in 1942, Lancaster Bombers stand ready for takeoff—an indomitable spirit embodied by brave souls who defended freedom with unwavering courage. Journeying across continents brings us face-to-face with Machu Picchu's majestic ruins embraced by Huayna Picchu.