Imports Collection

West India Docks 1810
The West India Docks in the great age of English trade - vessels lining the quays as far as the eye can see. Imports from the West Indies were especially important

Aerial view showing London docks in the East, 1951

Aerial view of Riverside Quay, Hull. 21st April 1958

The shuttle tanker Darina seen here being towed to her berth at the Shell oil terminal. 22nd September 1979

Alyse Berton Draped in Raw Silk
Alyse Berton, a Seattle resident, draped in raw silk. Seattle had become the most important silk port in the United States. Date: circa 1925

Advert for Arthur Sanderson and Sons, highlighting the international provenance of the fabrics and wallpapers available at their Berners Street showroom. Date: 1954

Extraordinary view of an entire floor of ivory in a huge warehouse, a portion of the ivory came from Asia, but the better bulk was imported from Africa

The Good Shopper, from the series Empire Buying Makes Busy Factories (colour litho)
MAN464513 The Good Shopper, from the series Empire Buying Makes Busy Factories (colour litho) by Newbould, Frank (1887-1951); Manchester Art Gallery

Food and Fruits of Empire [6319396] (colour litho)
MAN464460 Food and Fruits of Empire [6319396] (colour litho) by Nicholson, William (1872-1949); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; (add.info.: See 464458, 464460, 464462, 464461, 464459)

Australian Raisins, Sultanas and Currants (colour litho)
MAN464511 Australian Raisins, Sultanas and Currants (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; (add.info.: In 1928, the record year)

Food and Fruits of Empire [6319396] (colour litho)
MAN464459 Food and Fruits of Empire [6319396] (colour litho) by Nicholson, William (1872-1949); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; (add.info.: See 464458, 464460, 464462, 464461, 464459)

Food and Fruits of Empire [6319396] (colour litho)
MAN464458 Food and Fruits of Empire [6319396] (colour litho) by Nicholson, William (1872-1949); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; (add.info.: See 464458, 464460, 464462, 464461, 464459)

Untitled, from the series Christmas Fare from the Empire (colour litho)
MAN464430 Untitled, from the series Christmas Fare from the Empire (colour litho) by Harrison, F.C. (fl.1920s); Manchester Art Gallery

North, Central and Eastern Europe, from the series Where Our Exports Go, 1927 [6321242] (colour litho)
MAN452962 North, Central and Eastern Europe, from the series Where Our Exports Go, 1927 [6321242] (colour litho) by Grimmond, William (1884-1952); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; (add.info.: See 6320722)

Union of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, from the series Where Our Exports Go, 1927 [6321242] (colour litho)
MAN452963 Union of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, from the series Where Our Exports Go, 1927 [6321242] (colour litho) by Grimmond, William (1884-1952); Manchester Art Gallery

Untitled, from the series Christmas Fare from the Empire (colour litho)
MAN464432 Untitled, from the series Christmas Fare from the Empire (colour litho) by Harrison, F.C. (fl.1920s); Manchester Art Gallery

Untitled, from the series Christmas Fare from the Empire (colour litho)
MAN464431 Untitled, from the series Christmas Fare from the Empire (colour litho) by Harrison, F.C. (fl.1920s); Manchester Art Gallery

Revenue cutters capturing American smuggling ship
3784416 Revenue cutters capturing American smuggling ship; (add.info.: Revenue cutter capturing an American smuggling vessel, c. 1764)

Smuggling at Gibraltar, how the Spanish Revenue Officers are baffled (engraving)
1063082 Smuggling at Gibraltar, how the Spanish Revenue Officers are baffled (engraving) by Durand, Godefroy (1832-1896); Private Collection; (add.info.: Smuggling at Gibraltar)

Anti-free trade postcard (colour litho)
818349 Anti-free trade postcard (colour litho) by Moreland, Arthur (1876-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: Anti-free trade postcard.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection

John Bulls International Dumping Ground (colour litho)
818337 John Bulls International Dumping Ground (colour litho) by Moreland, Arthur (1876-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: John Bulls International Dumping Ground)

Timber (colour litho)
3648678 Timber (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Timber. Illustration for Atlas of the Worlds Commerce compiled from the latest official returns at)

India-rubber (colour litho)
3648664 India-rubber (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: India-rubber. Illustration for Atlas of the Worlds Commerce compiled from the latest official)

Fish (colour litho)
3648644 Fish (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fish. Illustration for Atlas of the Worlds Commerce compiled from the latest official returns at)

Wool (colour litho)
3648632 Wool (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wool. Illustration for Atlas of the Worlds Commerce compiled from the latest official returns at)

States and British representation (colour litho)
3648582 States and British representation (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: States and British representation)

Ivory at the London Docks (b / w photo)
3637372 Ivory at the London Docks (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ivory at the London Docks)

Punch cartoon: Bos Americanus; or, Yankee Beef and British Butcher - expected benefits to consumers of importing
6034865 Punch cartoon: Bos Americanus; or, Yankee Beef and British Butcher - expected benefits to consumers of importing American meat (engraving) by Tenniel

Plums from Damascus (chromolitho)
1094326 Plums from Damascus (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Plums from Damascus)

Cherries from Asia Minor (chromolitho)
1094325 Cherries from Asia Minor (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cherries from Asia Minor)

Thomas Morgan, woollen and linen draper, grocer and tea dealer, trade card (engraving)
731565 Thomas Morgan, woollen and linen draper, grocer and tea dealer, trade card (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thomas Morgan)

France - Trade - Dates from the desert oasis
Dates in wooden crates as they arrive direct from the desert oasis to the French warehouse of Champagne Freres Ld. Date: circa 1910s

Cartoon, Unfair Trade Winds (International Free Trade)
Cartoon, Unfair Trade Winds -- a satirical comment on competitive trade from overseas, adversely affecting the economy at home. Date: 1884

Cultivating and processing Hornimans tea in China and shipping it to England (colour litho)
6030958 Cultivating and processing Hornimans tea in China and shipping it to England (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Tariff Reform League Campaign Card
A campaign card by the Tariff Reform League shows a hop farmer complaining that cheap imports of hops will lead to his ending up in the workhouse. Date: 1908

G King, tea dealer, grocer etc, trade card (engraving)
731564 G King, tea dealer, grocer etc, trade card (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: G King, tea dealer, grocer etc, trade card)

Fruit (colour litho)
3648623 Fruit (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fruit. Illustration for Atlas of the Worlds Commerce compiled from the latest official returns at)

Tea (colour litho)
3648613 Tea (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tea. Illustration for Atlas of the Worlds Commerce compiled from the latest official returns at)

Aspects of British trade (colour litho)
3648586 Aspects of British trade (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Aspects of British trade)

Comparative imports and exports of various countries drawn to same scale (colour litho)
3648583 Comparative imports and exports of various countries drawn to same scale (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Crystal Palace, Interior, London (coloured photo)
3642630 Crystal Palace, Interior, London (coloured photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Crystal Palace, Interior, London)

Patriotic poster, Give and Take, Buy British
Patriotic poster, Buy British campaign -- Give and Take, Empire Products for Britain, British Manufactured Goods for the Empire, Buy British and help British labour at home and overseas

Importation of Foreign Produce (engraving)
1594405 Importation of Foreign Produce (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Importation of Foreign Produce)

December, A Swallow at Christmas (engraving)
5997826 December, A Swallow at Christmas (engraving) by Cruikshank, George (1792-1878); Private Collection; (add.info.: December, A Swallow at Christmas)

Wool (colour litho)
3648633 Wool (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wool. Illustration for Atlas of the Worlds Commerce compiled from the latest official returns at)

Barrels of rum stored in a warehouse at West India Docks (b / w photo)
3637375 Barrels of rum stored in a warehouse at West India Docks (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

T & I Dobson, wholesale and retail grocers and tea dealers, trade card (engraving)
731595 T & I Dobson, wholesale and retail grocers and tea dealers, trade card (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: T & I Dobson)

The Liverpool Cloth Establishment, trade card (engraving)
731582 The Liverpool Cloth Establishment, trade card (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Liverpool Cloth Establishment)

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"From West India Docks in 1810 to London docks in the East in 1951, they have shaped the growth of global trade. " "Alyse Berton draped in raw silk, a testament to the luxurious imports that adorned fashionable wardrobes. " "Arthur Sanderson and Sons showcased their international fabrics and wallpapers at their Berners Street showroom in 1954, bringing exotic beauty to London. " "In a warehouse filled with ivory from Asia and Africa, an extraordinary view reveals the vast scale of imported treasures. " "David Jones Advertisement: Celebrating the diversity of imported goods that enrich our lives every day. " "The Good Shopper knows that empire buying fuels busy factories, highlighting how imports drive economic prosperity. " "Food and Fruits of Empire: A colorful litho showcasing Australian raisins, sultanas, and currants - delicious imports from afar.