Doffs Collection

WW1 Allegory - The Allies greet the arriving Italian Soldier
Viva L Italia ! - WW1 Allegory - The Allies greet the arriving Italian Soldier - " Banded together to face the foe." Date: circa 1916

Workman & Boss / Doffs Cap
A workman walking in the street with his wife puts his finger to his cap when his employer rides past

Patriotic poster, Buying British - has put me in a job
Thanks! Buying British - has put me in a job. Part of a government campaign to tackle a balance of payments crisis, reinforced by a speech by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII)

Cartoon, AFTER THE DERBY
Cartoon, After the Derby! Death doffs his hat and kindly opens the gate for a coachload of revellers back from the Derby. Hell be getting to know them a whole lot better soon. Date: 1870

1882 / LANDOWNER / WORKERS
A workman walking in the street with his wife doffs his cap when his boss rides past Date: 1882

Good Morning! A Young Dutch Boy greets his girl and suggests a ride in his hobby horse-drawn cart... Date: circa 1920

Bismarck & Nap at Sedan
After the battle of SEDAN, a triumphant Bismarck doffs his cap to the defeated Napoleon Date: 2 September 1870

King George V inspecting Ole Bill - Buckingham Palace
King George V inspecting Ole Bill (driven by James Melton and filled with war veterans) an LCC bus requisitioned by the War Department which saw service throughout the whole of WW1 - Buckingham

Taormina, Sicily, Italy - King Edward VII at the Grand Hotel S. Domenico (walking in The Cloister) Date: 1907

Three boys playing at Motoring - two drive their wooden pretend car, complete with strapped in seat, horn (s) and solid wooden wheels

Pay Day on Naval Ship
Pay day on the Royal Sovereign - each man in turn doffs his cap to receive whats owing to him

Wilson in Paris to Talk
Woodrow Wilson, in Paris for the peace talks, doffs his hat to the crowd from his carriage Date: 1919

Death Greets Derbygoers
Death doffs his hat and kindly opens the gate for a coachload of revellers back from the Derby. He ll be getting to know them a whole lot better soon

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"Doffs: A Symbol of Unity and Resilience" In the midst of the chaos that was World War I, an allegory emerged as the Allies warmly greeted an arriving Italian soldier. With a simple gesture, they doffed their caps, acknowledging his bravery and welcoming him into their ranks. The act of doffing one's cap transcended war zones and found its way into everyday life. From the workman tipping his cap to his boss as a sign of respect and gratitude for employment, to patriotic posters urging citizens to support local industries with slogans like "Buying British - has put me in a job. " Even in cartoons, such as "AFTER THE DERBY, " we see characters removing their hats after a race, symbolizing sportsmanship and camaraderie. This tradition dates back to 1882 when landowners would doff their caps to workers, recognizing their contribution to society. But it wasn't just adults who embraced this custom; even young Dutch boys would greet their loved ones by removing their caps before suggesting a ride in their hobby horse-drawn cart. It was a charming display of manners and affection. Doffing caps also played significant roles in historical events. Bismarck and Napoleon III famously met at Sedan where both leaders respectfully removed their headwear during negotiations. Similarly, King George V inspected Ole Bill at Buckingham Palace while Taormina witnessed King Edward VII receiving greetings from locals with heartfelt cap-doffing gestures. As times changed, so did the context surrounding this gesture. Three boys playing at motoring showcased how even modern activities could be accompanied by traditional displays of respect through hat removals. Pay Day on Naval Ship saw sailors showing appreciation for hard-earned wages by raising hands adorned with naval caps instead. Finally, Wilson arrived in Paris for talks post-war where he received warm welcomes from French officials who honored him with respectful cap-doffing salutes.