The Philosophy of Beards (1854)
Eccentric Victorian book arguing a strong case for the universal wearing of a beard – that essential symbol of manly distinction since ancient times….more
19th Century
19th-Century Album of Ottoman Fashion
An album showing various clothing and ceremonial costumes of the Ottoman Empire, including an array of very impressive hatwear….more
Photograph Collection of a 19th-Century Sexologist
Photographs from the personal collection of Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing (1840-1902), a German-Austrian psychiatrist, early sexologist, and author of Psychopat…more
Fashions of the Future as Imagined in 1893
Illustrations from a delightful piece called the Future Dictates of Fashion by W. Cade Gall and published in 1893 which tries to predict the next 100 years of fash…more
Wear Celluloid Collars and Cuffs (ca.1870)
A charming set of 19th Century American trade cards, advertising – via the medium of a frog and gnome-like character – collars and cuffs made of a waterproof linen …more
Engravings from a French Ice-Skating Manual (1813)
Coloured engravings from France’s first ice-skating manual Le Vrai Patineur (The True Skater) written by Jean Garcin, a book praised in Honoré de Balzac’s Illu…more
A Pictorial History of Santa Claus
Contrary to what many believe, Santa Claus as we know him today – sleigh riding, gift-giving, rotund and white bearded with his distinctive red suit trimmed with …more
Posed Portraits of 19th Century Baseball Stars
Selection of studio posed photographs from the New York Public Library’s Spalding Collection, a series of over 500 photographs, prints, drawings, caricatures, and p…more
German Folk Dress (1887)
Images from Deutsche Volkstrachten, Original-Zeichnungen mit erklärendem Text (1887) by Albert Kretschmer, a book detailing the folk dress of the peoples in areas …more
The Flowers Personified (1847)
Images by the great Parisian cartoonist J.J Grandville from his Les Fleurs Animées – his last work, originally published posthumously in 1847, the year of his de…more
Fancy Dresses Described or What to Wear at Fancy Balls (1887)
A comprehensive guide to all things fancy dress, with detailed descriptions of costume ideas, from the more abstract such as “Air”, “Africa” “Dew” and “Five o Clock…more