Earliest Collection

A map of the Colne Valley Cloth District
Pictorial map of the Colne Valley Cloth District in Yorkshire, drawn by the poster artist and designer Leslie MacDonald Gill the year before his death, in 1946

Stone-age cave paintings, Chauvet, France
Stone-age cave paintings. Artwork depicting various animals painted on the wall of a cave. These paintings are found in the Chauvet Cave, France

Stone-age cave paintings, Chauvet, France
Stone-age cave paintings. Artwork of horses painted on the wall of a cave. These paintings are found in the Chauvet Cave, France, the site of the earliest known cave paintings (as of 2011)

Archaeopteryx fossil, Berlin specimen C016 / 5071
Archaeopteryx fossil, Berlin specimen. Cast of the Archaeopteryx specimen held at the Berlin Natural History Museum. This cast shows the spread-out wings and long, clawed fingers

Stone-age cave paintings, Chauvet, France
Stone-age cave paintings. Artwork depicting various animals painted on the wall of a cave. These paintings are found in the Chauvet Cave, France

The Code of Hammurabi
A view of part of the code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest systems of law. It was named after the ruler of Babylon who reigned from 1795 - 1750 BCE. (Kean Collection/Getty Images)

Zazel / Human Cannonball
Zazel at the Royal Aquarium, London. " A beautiful Lady shot from a monstrous cannon." This is thought to be the earliest photograph of a human cannonball act

Stone-age cave paintings, Chauvet, France
Stone-age cave paintings. Artwork depicting various animals painted on the wall of a cave. These paintings are found in the Chauvet Cave, France

Stone-age cave paintings, Chauvet, France
Stone-age cave paintings. Artwork of fighting rhinoceroses painted on the wall of a cave. These paintings are found in the Chauvet Cave, France

Mr Fezziwigs Ball, illustration by John Leech for A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens( London)
Mr Fezziwigs Ball, illustration by John Leech for A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens( London, 1843). This novella was the earliest and most popular of Dickens Christmas stories

Schizonema Smithii, ca. 1853. Creator: Anna Atkins
Schizonema Smithii, ca. 1853

Archaeopteryx lithographica [London specimen]
Main slab of rare fossil dinobird and earliest bird found in the Upper Jurassic of Solenhofen in Germany, now on display at The Natural History Museum, London. Known also as the London Archaeopteryx

Gotha Bomber
The German Gotha bomber : there were several variants of this plane, but this is probably the earliest, the G1. Later models carried out air raids on England

Map / Europe / France / Paris
Map showing the growth of Paris from its earliest origins to the latest projects under Napoleon III

First Authenticated Christmas Tree - Strasbourg
Christmas Tree in History and Legend: The Earliest Authenticated Christmas Tree in Strasbourg (at this time in Germany). A merchant of Strasburg (a Mr Forbes)

Archaeopteryx had the same number and arrangement of primary and secondary flight feathers as modern birds. Watercolour on paper by John Doncaster

James Figg, Boxer
Generally regarded as the earliest of Prize Ring champions, Figg was also a expert in the use of swords, cudgels and quarterstaffs

1894 Paris to Rouen race.Marchand in Peugeot

Ancient Olympics
In the earliest times, a simple foot-race was the only event in the Ancient Olympics

Kadesh Treaty, 1269 BC. Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty. Terra
Kadesh Treaty, 1269 BC. Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty between Ramesses II and Hattusilis III. Terracotta. Hittite version. From Hattusas (Bogazkoy). Archaeological Museum. Istanbul. Turkey

Model of Lucy, a young female Australopithecus afarensis hominid. The model was created from a cast of Lucys bones, and exhibited at the Kenya National Museum, Nairobi, Kenya

Spitfire at Start War
The Spitfire as it appears at the outbreak of World War Two, a magnificent machine which immediately proves its superiority in the earliest weeks of fighting

Earliest man tracked by tooth, discovery in Pliocene strata
The earliest man tracked by a tooth: an astounding discovery of human remains in Pliocene strata. An artists vision of Hesperopithecus (the ape-man of the western world) and contemporary animals

Cladostephus spongiosus, ca. 1853. Creator: Anna Atkins
Cladostephus spongiosus, ca. 1853

Flight to the Moon by Jules Verne
Flight to the Moon. Artwork depicting a scene from the science fiction novel From the Earth to the Moon (French: De la Terre a la Lune, 1865) by the French author Jules Verne (1828-1905)

Crowded Shipping
The Royal Hospital from the river - though its hardly to be seen, the Thames is so congested with ships and boats, including one of the earliest steamboats

Ypres Battlefield Markers and signs
Over the 40 years that we have been writing about these battlefields, there has been many attempts to signpost the places of interest

First design for the Chateau du Bouilh, Saint Andre de Cubzac, Aquitaine, c
XIR386094 First design for the Chateau du Bouilh, Saint Andre de Cubzac, Aquitaine, c.1787 (pen, ink & w/c) by Louis, Victor (1731-1800); Private Collection; (add.info.: Louis-Nicolas Louis)

Advert for Columbia Grafonola
Advert for The Columbia Graphophone Company Limited (Columbia Graphophone Co. Ltd.). It was one of the earliestA gramophoneA companies in theA United Kingdom

Henry III granting licence to dig coal in 1234. Different historical moments when coal was first noted to be used. The King is seen here giving permission to men in Newcastle to dig coal

Earliest practical reaper harvester invented by Rev Patrick Bell Date: 1828

The painter and his wife, 1496 (oil on panel)
471119 The painter and his wife, 1496 (oil on panel) by Master of Frankfurt, (1460-c.1533); 38x26 cm; Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp

Ramesses II receiving a copy of his treaty with the Hittitesfrom Hutchinsons History of the Nations, pub. 1915
3614196 Ramesses II receiving a copy of his treaty with the Hittitesfrom Hutchinsons History of the Nations, pub.1915 by Stewart

Europe divided into its Kingdoms, c. 1766 (hand-coloured engraved sheet mounted on wood)
6244298 Europe divided into its Kingdoms, c.1766 (hand-coloured engraved sheet mounted on wood) by Spilsbury, John (1739-69); 453x480 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Detail of the Right Bank, from the map of Paris c. 1540
617394 Detail of the Right Bank, from the map of Paris c. 1540, known as the Plan de la Tapisserie, made as a tapestry c. 1570, 1818 (colour engraving) by Naudet

Old Newington Church
Sir William Patten, Lord of the Manor, built the present Old Church, bordering Clissold Park on the north side of Church Street, in 1563

Ypres Ramparts CWGC Cemetery seen across the moat
The earliest settlement in this area is thought to have been near Langemarck in about AD960 and gradually a cluster of villages grew up around the Yperlee

The Montagne Sainte-Genevieve, detail from the plan of Paris made c
CHT163105 The Montagne Sainte-Genevieve, detail from the plan of Paris made c.1540, called Plan de la Gouache, c.1860 (coloured engraving) by French School

Map of Paris c. 1540, known as the Plan de la Tapisserie, made as a tapestry c
CHT163104 Map of Paris c.1540, known as the Plan de la Tapisserie, made as a tapestry c.1571, 1818 (colour engraving) by Naudet, Caroline (1775-1839); Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris

Page from De Proprietatibus Rerum by Bartholomeus Anglicus
488343 Page from De Proprietatibus Rerum by Bartholomeus Anglicus, in the French translation of Jean Corbechon, c.1390 (tempera on vellum) (see also 488340-47) by Remiet

One of the earliest and most beautiful pictures of West Point (colour litho)
6006984 One of the earliest and most beautiful pictures of West Point (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Terrific Apparition - Londons First Traffic Light 1869
Terrific Apparition - Seen during the recent fog at Westminster. A satire on Londons First Traffic Light. Invented by J P Knight, a railway signalling engineer

In the earliest times a simple foot-race was the only event (colour litho)
2795232 In the earliest times a simple foot-race was the only event (colour litho) by Crane, Walter (1845-1915) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Men of the Gordon Highlanders (b / w photo)
3627487 Men of the Gordon Highlanders (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Men of the Gordon Highlanders)

Mr Councillor Chamberlain (b / w photo)
3642016 Mr Councillor Chamberlain (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mr Councillor Chamberlain)

Pietermaritzburg, Church Street (b / w photo)
3092504 Pietermaritzburg, Church Street (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pietermaritzburg, Church Street)

Caedmon telling the story of the vision that came in the night (litho)
3099584 Caedmon telling the story of the vision that came in the night (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Joseph Chamberlain, as a Birmingham City councillor
Joseph Chamberlain, early portrait as a Birmingham City councillor. 19th century

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"Unveiling the Earliest Traces: From Stone-Age Cave Paintings to Pioneering Feats" Step back in time and witness the earliest glimpses of human creativity, as we explore the captivating world of ancient cave paintings. Journey to Chauvet, France, where these mesmerizing Stone-Age artworks transport us thousands of years into the past. The intricate depictions on those walls reveal a profound connection between our ancestors and their surroundings. But let's not confine ourselves solely to visual artistry; let's delve into history itself. Enter The Code of Hammurabi, an ancient Babylonian legal text that provides invaluable insights into early civilization's social structure and justice system. This remarkable artifact showcases humanity's quest for order amidst chaos. Now brace yourself for a spectacle like no other – Zazel, also known as the Human Cannonball. Witness this daredevil performer defy gravity with death-defying leaps through space. A true pioneer in entertainment, Zazel captivated audiences worldwide with her breathtaking stunts that pushed boundaries and redefined what was possible. Shifting gears once more, we find ourselves face-to-face with Archaeopteryx fossil specimens from Berlin and London. These extraordinary discoveries bridge the gap between dinosaurs and birds, offering compelling evidence for evolution over millions of years. They remind us how life has evolved through countless iterations before arriving at its present form. Returning to artistic expressions that transcend time barriers, we encounter Mr Fezziwig's Ball immortalized by John Leech in Charles Dickens' timeless classic A Christmas Carol. Through this enchanting illustration, we catch a glimpse of Victorian-era festivities filled with joyous dancing and merriment—a reminder that traditions have always played a vital role in shaping our cultural fabric. And finally, let us marvel at Anna Atkins' Schizonema Smithii cyanotype print from 1853—an exquisite example of early photography techniques pioneered by women artists like Atkins.