Thefts Collection

The Life of Captain Charlie Vane/Mary Read, A Female Pirate, 19th century (print)
7339230 The Life of Captain Charlie Vane/Mary Read, A Female Pirate, 19th century (print) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 46x43.4 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

The pirates of Cuba, 19th century (print)
7339234 The pirates of Cuba, 19th century (print) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 24.4x23.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

A pirate prepares for ambush, mid 19th century (coloured engraving)
7339198 A pirate prepares for ambush, mid 19th century (coloured engraving) by Debelle, Alexandre (1805-97) (after); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: A)

Buried Treasure, early 20th century (book illustration)
7339186 Buried Treasure, early 20th century (book illustration) by Pyle, Howard (1853-1911); 57x51.7 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

I feel quite safe (colour litho)
8656660 I feel quite safe (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "I feel quite safe." Man stealing a safe)

A robber being visited by death
3478598 A robber being visited by death; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a robber being visited by death'. Dated 16th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Wreckers luring a ship onto rocks, 1850
3478532 Wreckers luring a ship onto rocks, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting wreckers luring a ship onto rocks by means of the lamp on the mounted man's back)

A burglar activating a basic home security locking system, 1850
3330947 A burglar activating a basic home security locking system, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a burglar activating a basic home security locking system)

Wreckers luring a ship onto rocks, 1850
3478531 Wreckers luring a ship onto rocks, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting wreckers luring a ship onto rocks. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A young Butch Cassidy, 1850 (b/w photo)
3507240 A young Butch Cassidy, 1850 (b/w photo); (add.info.: Photographic portrait of Butch Cassidy (1866-1908) an American train robber, bank robber, and leader of the Wild Bunch gang

James Dunlap, 1880
3507322 James Dunlap, 1880; (add.info.: James Dunlap. The american bank robber, 1880.); Universal History Archive

Female shop-lifter caught in the act. 18th century. (print)
7419919 Female shop-lifter caught in the act. 18th century. (print); (add.info.: A female shop-lifter is caught in the act. She had concealed lengths of lace beneath her clothes)

Robbery of the diligence (engraving)
8644014 Robbery of the diligence (engraving) by Australian School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Robbery of the diligence)

Caught! (colour litho)
8645889 Caught! (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Caught! Illustration for The Children's Treasure (Simpkin, Marshall)

"Your money or your life", 1827 (litho)
7422877 "Your money or your life", 1827 (litho); (add.info.: Transport. "Your money or your life." Armed robbery of a stagecoach of the Messageries Royales in France)

James Dunlap, 1880
3507321 James Dunlap, 1880; (add.info.: James Dunlap. The american bank robber, 1880.); Universal History Archive

Thursday for losses (chromolitho)
8677359 Thursday for losses (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thursday for losses)

I trust you won't think me abrupt (colour litho)
8655827 I trust you won't think me abrupt (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: I trust you won't think me abrupt)

Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving)
8638772 Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving) by Bennett, Charles Henry (1828-67) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Some beastly thief has sneaked my clothes (colour litho)
8656696 Some beastly thief has sneaked my clothes (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Some beastly thief has sneaked my clothes)

Comedy postcard of the Mona Lisa after the artwork's theft in 1911 (postcard)
LSE4104075 Comedy postcard of the Mona Lisa after the artwork's theft in 1911 (postcard); Private Collection; (add.info.: La Joconde)

A burglar escaping down a ladder, 1850
3330949 A burglar escaping down a ladder, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a burglar escaping down a ladder after breaking into a home. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Muscovite robbers carrying a canoe overland on their way to commit a crime
3330659 Muscovite robbers carrying a canoe overland on their way to commit a crime; (add.info.: Engraving of Muscovite robbers carrying a canoe overland on their way to commit a crime)

Economy. Fine Art and General Insurance. Poster by Emile Berchmans, Belgium, c.1890 (poster)
3434529 Economy. Fine Art and General Insurance. Poster by Emile Berchmans, Belgium, c.1890 (poster); (add.info.: Economie. Coll. Part. Economy. Fine Art and General Insurance)

"We have found the Mona Lisa in Florence", front page of Excelsior, 13th December 1913 (litho)
LSE3714166 "We have found the Mona Lisa in Florence", front page of Excelsior, 13th December 1913 (litho); Private Collection; (add.info)

Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving)
8638753 Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving) by Bennett, Charles Henry (1828-67) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

A spirited shop girl resents the customary search of her satchel by her employer (engraving)
8643244 A spirited shop girl resents the customary search of her satchel by her employer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Everybody does it, 1910 (lithograph)
1579916 Everybody does it, 1910 (lithograph); (add.info.: Photomechanical print titled Everybody does it depicting a large circle of men)

Illustration for The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawn (litho)
8663411 Illustration for The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawn (litho) by Robinson, William Heath (1872-1944) ; Private Collection; (add.info)

Illustration for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (litho)
8664541 Illustration for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (litho) by Furniss, Harry (1854-1925) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Burglary)

Inside, the southern chapel (chapel of St. James?), murals, 1594 (?), scene 5: the count steals the relic
7242663 Inside, the southern chapel (chapel of St. James?), murals, 1594 (?), scene 5: the count steals the relic, all beg him (Philip of Alsace seizes the head; Collegiale Saint-Pierre)

The retreat of the pirates (print)
7339243 The retreat of the pirates (print) by Stanfield, Clarkson Frederick (1793-1867); 27.1x20 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: C)

Life and adventures of Paul Jones, the pirate. Capturing the Mellish'
7339236 Life and adventures of Paul Jones, the pirate. Capturing the Mellish'. Jones attacked by the coast-guard, while landing a cargo of contraband goods

The Pirate, 19th century (print)
7339229 The Pirate, 19th century (print) by Stanfield, Clarkson Frederick (1793-1867); 14.5x10 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: C. Stanfield; J)

Charlotte de Berry, the female pirate, 19th century (engraving)
7339160 Charlotte de Berry, the female pirate, 19th century (engraving) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 17.7x24.1 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

A burglar activating a basic home security locking system, 1850
3330938 A burglar activating a basic home security locking system, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a burglar activating a basic home security locking system)

Trades: Burglar (colour litho)
8641500 Trades: Burglar (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Burglar. Illustration for one of a set of playing cards used in the game Jack of All Trades)

I was deeply touched (colour litho)
8656809 I was deeply touched (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "I was deeply touched." Pickpockets stealing from a man)

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (colour litho)
8635542 A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush)

Highwayman (colour litho)
8635483 Highwayman (colour litho) by Ward, William Dudley (1879-1935); Private Collection; (add.info.: Highwayman. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Hop-o'-My-Thumb (chromolitho)
8664002 Hop-o'-My-Thumb (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hop-o'-My-Thumb)

Postman from the GPO stealing a letter (colour litho)
8672155 Postman from the GPO stealing a letter (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Postman from the GPO stealing a letter)

Boy about to throw a snowball (chromolitho)
8677516 Boy about to throw a snowball (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Boy about to throw a snowball)

New York woman stealing from a sleeping man in the park (engraving)
8664227 New York woman stealing from a sleeping man in the park (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The pirate of the parks)

An Attack on a Galleon, early 20th century (book illustration)
7339187 An Attack on a Galleon, early 20th century (book illustration) by Pyle, Howard (1853-1911); 58.4x52.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Space taken by the Mona Lisa in the salon carre in Louvre museum before her theft, 1911
1749827 Space taken by the Mona Lisa in the salon carre in Louvre museum before her theft, 1911; (add.info.: Space taken by the Mona Lisa in the salon carre in Louvre museum before her theft by an)

Scene of attacks, trafficking and looting, 1455 (miniature)
JLJ4629093 Scene of attacks, trafficking and looting, 1455 (miniature) by Unknown Artist, (15th century); Bibliotheque Municipale, Rouen, France; (add.info.: Scene of attacks)

Little Tom Thumb, 1938 (print)
7415591 Little Tom Thumb, 1938 (print) by Tapissier, Edmond (E.Tap) (1861-1943); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cover of Charles Perrault's story "Le Petit Poucet", illustration by E)

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"The Art of Theft: From Little Tom Thumb to the Last Sicilian Robbers" Step into a world where thefts come alive through art. In 1938, the print "Little Tom Thumb" captures the mischievous nature of a young thief, reminding us that even the smallest can be cunning. Moving back in time, we encounter "Portrait of a Kleptomaniac, " an oil on canvas masterpiece from c. 1820-24 that delves into the mind of someone consumed by their urge to steal. As we delve deeper into this captivating theme, an engraving titled "The cat steals Pierrot's roasted partridge" (verse 9) transports us to 1880 and showcases how even animals can partake in thievery. The brush and Indian ink works of "The Fool Of Reuter And Schreiber" and "The Fox-Tailed Jester, " both created between 1660-86, reveal that jesters too have their own tricks up their sleeves. But it's not just playful antics depicted in these stolen moments; there is also danger lurking. An illustration from 1936 called "The Parroquet - To the Thief. . " shows a parrot raising alarm as it witnesses a cat stealing its prized leg. Meanwhile, two highwaymen patiently await their next victim in Germany during 1898. Moving away from fiction and entering reality, we confront darker aspects throughout history. A colour litho titled "The end of Dillinger" portrays the downfall of one notorious criminal while another litho named "Unfortunate heroism" depicts brave carabinieri facing evildoers head-on in Palermo. War brings out both heroism and villainy alike; an impactful colour litho called "The Horrors Of War" reveals Russian soldiers engaging in looting and violence during shooting incidents in Irkutsk.