Vintage Posters
Cunard Cruise Line Poster, New York
Cunard poster advertising '6000 Miles Cruise to the New World, New York, Niagara Falls and The Great Chicago Exhibition' and featuring the Statue of Liberty and New York skyline
'Tycoon's Palace, Yedo (inside the outer moat)' [Tokyo, Japan]
'Tycoon' (great lord) was originally an alternative Japanese term for describing the shogun to foreigners.The Nishinomaru Palace within the Castle of Edo (now Tokyo) had been the seat of the Japanese shogunate (military governing dynasty) since the 17th century - while the emperor was maintained as a symbolic head of state residing in Kyoto. The 15th and last Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, acceded in 1866 but resigned in late 1867 without ever residing at Edo, during the events which precipitated the Boshin War (1868-69) and formal restoration of the Meiji imperial dynasty. In May 1868, the Emperor resumed residence in the Castle of Edo, which became the castle and Imperial Palace of Tokyo when the city's name changed to Tokyo (26 October 1868). The Nishomaru residence was destroyed by fire in 1873 and the site subsequently much altered. Butt therefore saw it at a critical moment, and possibly only because it was not officially occupied at the time. The sentry on the right bears a Western firearm.
Admiral Sir George Rooke (1650-1709)
A three-quarter-length portrait to the right of Admiral Sir George Rooke, Admiral of the Fleet. He wears a gold-braided red cloth coat with wide sleeves, grey-brown full-bottomed wig and a white neck-cloth. His right arm rests on the muzzle of a cannon and he holds a telescope in his left hand. Behind him in both the right and left backgrounds, is a depiction of the Battle of Malaga, 1704. Admiral Rooke's flagship, the 'Royal Katharine' with the Union flag at the main, is seen in port-quarter view, engaging the 'Foudroyant', which was the flagship of the Franco-Spanish fleet under the Comte de Toulouse, an illegitimate son of Louis XIV. Though inconclusive, the Battle of Malaga was the only fleet action fought at sea during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Rear-Admiral Sir George Cockburn (1772-1853)
Cockburn was one of Nelson's talented frigate captains in the Mediterranean in the 1790s but is best known for his actions during the Anglo-American War of 1812. In 1814 he accompanied the joint naval and military force under Major-General Ross, which after the battle of Bladensburg seized the city of Washington for 24 hours. The public buildings were burnt, including the President's mansion. Its shell had to be painted white on reconstruction to hide the damage and it subsequently became more generally known as the White House. Cockburn provided support and guidance to the army throughout the campaign having become familiar with operations on shore. Ross gave credit to Cockburn for the idea of the attack on Washington although it was part of the strategy of Sir Alexander Cochrane who had become Commander-in-Chief on the North American station early in 1814. Cockburn also accompanied Ross in the advance against Baltimore and was with him during the skirmish on 12 September when Ross was killed. Cockburn's other widely known claim to fame is as the man charged with conveying Napoleon to exile in St Helena in 1815 (in his flagship, the 'Northumberland'), where he remained briefly as Governor and saw the ex-Emperor settled at Longwood, the house built for him there. He subsequently became an MP and was commander-in-chief on the North American station, 1833-36. From 1841 to 1846 he was First Sea Lord and the Navy's well considered adoption of steam technology and other reforms owed a great deal to his firm guidance, which always put professional standards above political considerations. He reached the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in 1851and briefly inherited the family baronetcy the following year.He is shown full length to right wearing rear-admiral's undress coat and hat, 1812-25 pattern, breeches and hessian boots. In the background are the burning Capitol buildings in Washington. This picture or a version was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1817.
The Battle of La Hogue, 23 May 1692
The action at La Hogue in May 1692 formed a crucial scene in the wider context of the Battle of Barfleur. This was a naval battle of the War of the League of Augsburg, 1689-1697, fought between an Anglo-Dutch and a French fleet. It was not finally brought to a conclusion until 24 May in the Bay of La Hogue, in the course of which the French flagship.
John Benbow (1653-1702), Sir Ralph Delavalle (circa 1645-1707) and Thomas Phillips (circa 1635-1693)
A triple portrait of Thomas Phillips, John Benbow, and Sir Ralph Delavall. It probably relates to British fleet operations against the north coast of France during 1692-93. The officer seated on the left holds a plan of fortifications, and is believed to be Thomas Phillips, the fleet's chief military engineer. Highly distinguished, he was involved with John Benbow at the bombardment of St Malo. He wears a leather coat and breastplate with a red silk drape over his right arm. His portrait was probably painted in 1692-93 before the summer campaign of 1693 from which he did not return. The central figure is John Benbow, Admiral of the White, three-quarter length facing to right. He wears a brown silk robe, a dark brown full bottom wig and holds a quadrant in his right hand. Benbow's early career was in the Merchant Service where he gained a reputation as a seaman and a fighter of Barbary pirates. He entered the navy as captain of the 'York' in 1689 and the following year became master of Admiral Torrington's flagship, a post equivalent to the Navigator of the Fleet. He was involved in the battles of Beachy Head 1690 and also at La Hogue. The figure standing on the right is Sir Ralph Delavalle who was Admiral of the Blue. He is shown three-quarter length and wearing a brown silk coat and dark brown full bottom wig. His right hand rests on a celestial globe holding a pair of dividers. His left hand is on his hip, holding a blue silk drape. He served in the Second and Third Dutch Wars and commanded the 'Constant Warwick' in 1674.
The capture of the 'Alcide' and 'Lys', 8 June 1755
On the belief that the French were preparing to build up their military presence in America, in April 1755 an English naval squadron was despatched to America. The aim was to catch the French fleet in a net of British war ships. In charge was Admiral Boscawen who, having received his orders, got his fleet of fourteen ships underway, followed soon afterwards by seven more ships under Admiral Holbourne. By the end of May, 1755, a British war fleet was cruising between the southern coast of Newfoundland and the northern coast of Cape Breton. At the same time, after a considerable delay the French fleet left Brest on May 3rd, 1755. Aboard were 3,000 troops, with Admiral de la Motte in charge of the French fleet which had been dispatched with provisions for the French colonies in North America. In foggy conditions off the Newfoundland Banks, four French warships of de la Motte's fleet became separated from their fleet and were sighted on 6 June and chased. They played hide and seek in the fog until two of them were brought to action and taken. A third that had been sighted and chased and escaped in the fog. Even though war was not officially declared, Boscawen had been ordered to attack any French squadron he met. The French 'Alcide' and 'Lys' were captured which resulted in the first shots of the Seven Years War, 1756-1763. In the foreground of this contemporary painting, the 'Defiance', commanded by Captain Thomas Andrews is firing into the French warship the 'Lys', which is not replying. Between the two ships in the background can be seen the 'Dunkirk'' commanded by Captain the Hon. Richard Howe and the 'Alcide' commanded by Captain de Hocquart. On the left an English merchantman is shown coming towards the viewer.
A sticker-up of bills on Tower Hill at the rendezvous at the King's Arms
The King's Arms on Tower Hill, London, was the City naval rendezvous, most significantly that for the local impress service, which included both voluntary recruitment and the 'press gang' when emergency required this. Recruits of both sorts were housed on the 'Enterprise', the name of a series of receiving ships moored off the Tower, before being shipped down to Sheerness and beyond by naval tenders. Whether this bill-sticker was specifically naval (for recruiting posters) is not clear, since there were many other sorts, but this anonymous portrait is an extraordinary record of a worker at one of the lowest levels of London life. He appears to be wearing a dilapidated fair wig on top of naturally dark hair. Since there are several October 1774 drawings in the Bray album which may be London subjects, it is possible Bray was at the King's Arms waiting for (free) passage by sea round to Portsmouth on one of the naval tenders, rather than taking the public coach. It is probable from other evidence that he was in fact in London by about the end of September.
The bombardment of Sveaborg, 9 August 1855
A depiction of the Bombardment of Sveaborg, the culmination of the Anglo-French fleet's operations in the Baltic in the second season of the Russian (Crimean) War, 1854-1856. Sveaborg was a fortress guarding the route between St Petersburg and the Baltic Sea, and Helsinki to the east. On 6 August 1855, the Anglo-French fleet led by Admirals Richard S. Dundas in the 'Duke of Wellington' and Charles Penaud in the 'Tourville' arrived at Sveaborg and anchored in formation at an appropriate distance from the fortress, where its outdated guns could not reach them. On the morning of 9 August, they began shelling the fortress. Considerable damage was inflicted on the dockyard and enemy ships and stores. Despite the severity of the bombardment and fire, the action served little military purpose. Public opinion at home was satisfied but the effect on the course of the war against Russia was negligible.
An action of the English succession
The painting depicts English and French ships in action. The English ship has tentatively been identified as the 'St David', but there is some confusion as to whether the action depicted is Bantry Bay or another battle during the War of the English Succession. The identity of the artist is unclear: Adriaen van Diest and Willem van de Velde the Younger have been suggested.
A military chart of the marches and encampments of the grand army commanded by Major General Medows from the 26th May to the 14th December 1790
At the beginning of the Third Mysore War the main division of the British army, under Medows, attempted to reach Mysore from the south. Tipu Sultan's much larger army descended through the Gazzalhatty Pass and drove the British back.
Destruction of the 'Soleil Royal' at the Battle of La Hogue, 23 May 1692
The action at La Hogue in May 1692 formed a crucial scene in the wider context of the Battle of Barfleur, a naval battle of the War of the League of Augsburg, 1689-1697, which was fought between an Anglo-Dutch and a French fleet. It was not finally brought to a conclusion until 24 May in the Bay of La Hogue, in the course of which the French flagship
James, Duke of York (1633-1701)
In the tradition of the swagger portrait, this painting is an opulent statement of James's military skills. A full-length, highly coloured Baroque portrait slightly to left, facing to the right in a Roman costume representing Mars, the god of war. He sports a brown full-bottomed wig and gold armour of lapped plates and tassels. He also wears green three-quarter length hose and jewelled sandals, cross-gartered to lion-mask tops.
Souvenir theatre programme: 1900
Souvenir theatre programme. This souvenir programme for The London Hippodrome was probably published soon after the venue's grand opening in 1900. Ancient Roman hippodromes were designed for horse and chariot racing, as illustrated on the back cover. Modern 'equestrian, equilibristic, antipodean, gymnastic and flying acts' were performed twice a day at The London hippodrome. According to the brochure, London's hippodrome combined all the best features of the ancient concept in a modern, 'modified' form. Performers made use of the gallery's high ceiling, which was constructed from iron and concrete, for 'high dives and snow storm effects'.
'Farm Collection and Delivery Services', LNER poster, 1930.
Poster produced by London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote the company's collection and delivery services to and from farms in the country. This service was advertised in winter to boost goods traffic during the slack period. LNER was prepared to collect and deliver agricultural traffic within 10 miles of the station, saving the farmer time and labour. Artwork by Andrew Johnson. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 1270 mm.
Line of German Army trucks, Second World War, 1 September 1939.
German military vehicles at 7.50 am, possibly during the invasion of Poland.
'Hot News for Commuters - Our Timesaver Prices are Down', 1977.
British Rail poster advertising price reductions to and from Sheffield. Text only.
'Clacton-on-Sea', LNER poster, 1923-1947.
London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) poster advertising rail services to the Esex resort of Clacton-on-Sea. Artwork by W Smithson Broadhead.