Disguises Collection

Olive Malvery serving in a sweet shop
In the early 1900s, Olive Malvery, an established singer and reciter of verse, became known for her investigative reports of Londons poor, especially women

Alfred in Danes Camp
Alfred the Great disguises himself as a wandering musician and plays the harp in the camp of the Danes while gathering information about their military strength

The Boston Tea Party - a political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1773

Tuifllauf, Fulpmes, Stubaital Valley, Austria

D. A. Clarke-Smith
British actor D. A. Clarke-Smith (1888-1959) appearing in a variety of guises in the play Queer Fish at the Apollo Theatre. Date: 1931

Waldensian missionaries in guise of Pedlars, illustration from
619618 Waldensian missionaries in guise of Pedlars, illustration from The History of Protestantism by James Aitken Wylie (1808-1890), pub

"Don Juan"at the Gaiety Theatre (litho)
1063152 " Don Juan" at the Gaiety Theatre (litho) by Boyd, Alexander Stuart (1854-1930); Private Collection; (add.info.: " Don Juan" at the Gaiety Theatre)

The ecsape of Lord Nithsdale from the Tower of London (engraving)
587855 The ecsape of Lord Nithsdale from the Tower of London (engraving) by Osborn, Emily Mary (1834-93); Private Collection; (add.info.: The ecsape of Lord Nithsdale from the Tower of London)

The curate and the barber disguises themselves to take Don Quixote, 18th (engraving)
2911142 The curate and the barber disguises themselves to take Don Quixote, 18th (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); Universal History Archive/UIG; English, out of copyright

America - The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 16th 1773. 6 December 1773

Tyrolese boy, Victorian Mask (chromolitho)
983027 Tyrolese boy, Victorian Mask (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tyrolese boy, Victorian Mask.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

Stuff... of the other world (colour litho)
2777823 Stuff... of the other world (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Things... from the other world)

But if you look, and they fear there is no time to hide
3481696 But if you look, and they fear there is no time to hide, they stand quite still pretending to be flowers, from Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by J M Barrie (1860 - 1937), pub

Ash Wednesday. Down with masks (colour litho)
2818367 Ash Wednesday. Down with masks (colour litho) by Meyer, Henri (1841-99) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ash Wednesday. Down with masks. Satire on the state of French public life)

Advertisement for New Theatre Royal, English Opera, Strand, London, for 11 September 1817
610450 Advertisement for New Theatre Royal, English Opera, Strand, London, for 11 September 1817, mentioning gas lighting (engraving) by English School

Bal masque, 1918 (colour litho)
STC363549 Bal masque, 1918 (colour litho) by Somov, Konstantin Andreevic (1869-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: Masked Ball; ); The Stapleton Collection; Russian, out of copyright

Actors in front of a representation of St. Marks Square (oil on canvas)
GIA940230 Actors in front of a representation of St. Marks Square (oil on canvas) by Italian School, (17th century); Casa Goldoni, Venice, Italy; eGiancarlo Costa; Italian, out of copyright

Tyrolese girl, Victorian Mask. (chromolitho)
983026 Tyrolese girl, Victorian Mask. (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tyrolese girl)

Early morning at Scotland Yard, detectives in various disguises and the Flying Squad starting out on their morning
1090714 Early morning at Scotland Yard, detectives in various disguises and the Flying Squad starting out on their morning rounds (litho) by Robinson

Salvation Lass, Victorian Mask (chromolitho)
983028 Salvation Lass, Victorian Mask (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Salvation Lass)

Express Messenger, Victorian Mask (chromolitho)
983025 Express Messenger, Victorian Mask (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Express Messenger)

Dark-clad, masked Ninja warrior moving forward, weapon behind back

Santa, viewed from behind

Two santas, viewed from behind

Witch figure, hanging from a tree, creepy, Walpurgis Night

Three runaway schoolboys enlisted by an old salt sea captain
Three runaway schoolboys in nautical disguise enlisted by an old salt sea captain. Date: 1898

Three schoolboys run away from school in nautical disguise
Three errant schoolboys run away from school and disguise themselves as little sailors Date: 1898

General Picquart - Satire - Dreyfus Affair
Marie-Georges Picquart disguises himself by strapping on a tight corset. This cartoon is a sature on Picquarts position as head of the counter-espionnage bureau during the Dreyfus Affair

Long-legged Spider Crab (Macropodia sp. ) adult, covered with algae for camouflage, on sandy seabed, Studland Bay
Long-legged Spider Crab (Macropodia sp.) adult, covered with algae for camouflage, on sandy seabed, Studland Bay, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England, September

Pupa of butterfly enclosed in cocoon

Owl Butterfly (Caligo beltrao), brown, camouflaged butterfly on tree branch

Child wearing colourful bird costume, front view

Disguising a German Shop - Start of WWI
Postcard sent within six weeks of the start of WWI, depicting a German Shopkeeper in Britain hastily changing the livery of his store to something perfectly British

Alfred in the Danish camp
King Alfred the Great disguises himself as a minstrel in order to discover the plans of the Danish leader Guthrum. This he does and is successful at the Battle of Edington which followed. Date: 878

King Alfred disguised in Danish camp
King Alfred the Great disguises himself as a minstrel and goes undercover at the Danish camp of Guthrum, leader of the Danes in order to find out their plans

Tudor Summerhouse
This Tudor summerhouse, in Soho Square, London, disguises a ventilation shaft from the underground railway tube station! London, England. Date: 16th century

Revelations on Honeymoon
Revelations - 1st Chapter A hilarious postcard showing a couple on their honeymoon, revealing to each other (for seemingly yht efirst time!) their physical shortcomings

Mediterranean Black Widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) young female, on web disguised with leaves, Rondinara Beach, Corsica, France, may

Olive Malvery as street singer
In the early 1900s, Olive Malvery, an established singer and reciter of verse, became known for her investigative reports of Londons poor, especially women

Olive Malvery serving in a cheap coffee house
In the early 1900s, Olive Malvery, an established singer and reciter of verse, became known for her investigative reports of Londons poor, especially women

Olive Malvery selling fruit
In the early 1900s, Olive Malvery, an established singer and reciter of verse, became known for her investigative reports on Londons poor, especially women

Vertumnia and Hamadryad
Vertumnia loves a hamadryad, but he doesn t love her; so she disguises herself as an old woman and tells him awful stories of what happens to people who reject love

H. M. Bateman all by himself by H. M. Bateman
Self-portrait caricature by H. M. Bateman showing the artist sitting in a prison cell drawing. Several false noses and eyeballs hang from the walls

Royal Evasion - 2
The royal family get as far as Varennes, but in spite of their disguises they are recognised and prevented from continuing their journey

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"Unveiling the Art of Disguises: From Sweet Shops to Summerhouses" Olive Malvery, known for her impeccable disguises, served customers with a smile at a quaint sweet shop. Alfred found solace in Danes Camp, where he donned various disguises to escape his troubled past. The Tudor Summerhouse became a hub for secret meetings, as individuals masked their true identities behind elaborate costumes. D. A. Clarke-Smith's masterpiece captured Waldensian missionaries disguised as pedlars, spreading their message covertly. The iconic Boston Tea Party saw patriots hiding their faces beneath Native American guises, fighting for freedom from British rule. In Tuifllauf village nestled within Austria's Stubaital Valley, locals celebrated an age-old tradition by wearing masks and disguising themselves during the annual festival. "Don Juan" took center stage at the Gaiety Theatre as actors skillfully concealed their true selves behind theatrical masks and costumes. Lord Nithsdale's daring escape from the Tower of London was made possible through a clever disguise that fooled even his captors (engraving). A barber and curate cunningly transformed themselves into different characters to deceive Don Quixote in this 18th-century engraving depicting their crafty disguises. America witnessed history unfold during the infamous Boston Tea Party when rebels disguised themselves as Mohawk warriors to protest unjust taxation policies. Taking inspiration from Victorian masquerades, a Tyrolese boy embraced the spirit of mystery by adorning himself with an intricately designed mask (chromolitho). Intriguing tales woven around disguises reveal humanity's timeless fascination with concealing our true selves while exploring new identities or seeking liberation from societal constraints across various eras and cultures.