Pretend Collection (page 3)

ARP ( air raid precaution ) demonstration at Horton Kirby, Kent. Rescue work on a pretend casuatly at a bombed house. 1938

The pupils at Erith County School perform a mock trial. 1938

Young Children Stage Wedding
United States: 1950 Young children stage a mock wedding, complete with bridesmaids

Boy Pours Sister A Cup Of Tea
United States: c. 1890. A young boy pours his little sister a cup of tea from a play set

Children dressing-up
Two little children dress-up, the girl in a lace bonnet and long dress, the boy in top hat and suit, as they look after their baby doll. Date: c. 1910

Street music: A bird mimic, 1816
A street musician who mimics the notes of common English birds by means of a folded bit of tin, which is held between the teeth; but in order to engage the attention of the credulous

The Queen of Make-Believe by Richard B. Ogle
A small girl with a solemn expression sits on a throne in a long while dress, holding a sceptre while two toy soldiers stand guard either side of her. Date: 1925

British Lesbian Wedding - the blushing bride appears to be holding a bouquet of cabbage leaves. Date: circa 1910s

Dollies wedding
A group of girls have a pretend wedding ceremony, playing the bride and groom, vicar and guesses. Date: 1882

Giving Dolly a bath
Two little girls washing their dolly in a bowl Date: 1882

Children in their pirates cave
Pretending to be pirates Date: Circa 1880

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

Two boys playing at riding a Carriage. One urges on the team of four piebald hobby horses with a whip, while the other sends forth a blast on his horn announcing their departure. Date: circa 1910s

Two illustrations, The Queen of the Pirate Isle, showing (1) Polly riding on the back of her cousin Hickory Hunt, as they pretend to make for a desert island in a storm

Three boys playing at Fox Hunting, two on their hobby horses and one wearing a fox suit! They even have two dogs with them. Date: circa 1910s

Four boys playing at Bullfighting. The dead wooden bull is dragged away by a team of two piebald rocking horses Date: circa 1910s

Initiation of the Private Secretary
Ceremonial initiation consisting of the enactment of a heated discussion between two Brothers pretending to be Salomon and the King of Tyr. 1890s

Initiation of the Prince of Jersualem
Wearing pretend beards, the Brothers reward the recipients dedication on a recent mission with kisses and a golden crown made of paper. Date: 1890s

The beggars of New York
Cynical view of New York beggars who apparently pretend to be blind and hire babies to attract more sympathy, then go home or to the nearest eatery for a slap-up dinner. Date: 1886

Game / Playing Shop C1890
Children playing at shops with the help of two chairs and a tablecloth. Date: circa 1890

Children in Nursery 1905
Children playing games in the nursery; a boy pretends his two little sisters are horses! circa 1905

Children Walkers
A little boy playing in the nursery turns his younger brothers in their baby walkers into horses, just for fun. Date: late 19th century

Now then, John, whip them orse up or we shan t catch the t
Simple wooden box on wheels turns into a horse a cart with a little bit of a childs emagination. Date: 1897

Grass snake feigning death
Grass snake (Natrix natrix) feigning death. This non-venomous snake lives in meadows, marshes and on the edge of rivers, streams and canals. It feeds on frogs, toads and newts

Boy pretending to eat an earthworm
MODEL RELEASED. Boy pretending to eat a worm. This is an earthworm, an annelid worm found in the soil. Earthworms play an important role in aerating the soil and recycling soil nutrients

Off to Market by Muriel Dawson
A sweet little girl in an orange dress, carries a brightly striped umbrella and a blue basket on her way to market

My Tea Party by Muriel Dawson
A small blonde girl enjoys playing with a toy tea set. A tiny toy soldier on the other side of the table appears to be her only guest

Tea Time by Muriel Dawson
A little girl with blonde hair sits in a chair and solemnly feeds her baby doll

The tea party by Susan Beatrice Pearse
Two little girls sit down solemnly to a tea party accompanied by their pet dog and several dolls

The Army and Navy by John Hassall
A group of ragamuffin children play at soldiers by using various bits of home hardware such as buckets and brushes as their armour and weaponry

Playing at Indians by May Smith
A group of children play at being native American Indians while camping in a woodland glade

Children play with pretend Motor Car
Two young children convert the family wheelbarrow into a far more exciting pretend Motor Car. Here they are loading up the oil

Little girl playing with toy tea set
A pretty young girl pouring herself a cup of pretend tea using a bright orange plastic tea set. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Pretended rabbit breeder Mary Tofts
Undated photograph of engraving of pretend rabbit-breeder Mary Tofts. HPG/1/13/2 (xviii)

Pretend Rabbit Breeder
Depiction of Mary Tofts, supposedly giving birth to rabbits

Sham German Tanks
Forbidden real tanks under the terms of the Versailles peace treaty the German army parades & manoeuvres with sham ones

Soldiers Dog Mourns
A German Shepherd Dog lies above the grave of its master, a casualty of World War One

Playing Cobblers Shop
Three children pretend to be in a cobblers shop

Seance Device
Four spiritualists try a new method of communicating with the spirits, using a metal plate and electrical controls in a way I don t pretend to understand (text in Swedish)

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"Pretend: A World of Imagination Unleashed" Step into a world where make-believe reigns supreme, as The Bright Young People gather for the mock Rayner-Ponsonby wedding. With their extravagant costumes and mischievous grins, they transport us to a realm where reality is merely an afterthought. In Muriel Dawson's masterpiece, "The Party, " laughter fills the air as guests revel in the joy of pretending. Monkey driving a toy car adds to the whimsy, reminding us that even our wildest dreams can come true within the realms of imagination. But it's not just humans who indulge in this delightful game. In George Studdy's iconic illustration, "Bonzo palms the pill, " we witness a clever canine pretending to be innocent while hiding his mischief behind those adorable eyes. Meanwhile, Queen Mother's visit to London evacuees at Horsted Keynes in 1939 showcases how they are bring solace during challenging times. Children dressed as Tom, Tom the Pipers Son alongside their rather wonderful pair (possibly father and son) remind us that even amidst chaos, playfulness has its place. Muriel Dawson strikes again with her enchanting artwork titled "Rock-a-Bye Baby. " As babies slumber peacefully on fluffy clouds suspended by moonbeams, they invite us to join them in a land where lullabies become reality and dreams take flight. Yet not all pretend is light-hearted; history reminds us of German U-Boats lurking beneath treacherous waters during wartime struggles. Even then, children find solace through imaginative games that shield them from harsh realities. Nat King Cole serenades our souls with his timeless hit song "Pretend, " transporting listeners into a world where love conquers all obstacles. His melodic voice whispers secrets only known by those who dare embrace pretense wholeheartedly. And what could be more absurdly delightful than a flamingo in a turkey costume.