1785 Collection

Steam Engine / Governor
Governor, or Fly-Ball Governor, invented by James Watt to regulate the supply of steam in order to preserve a nearly fixed engine speed

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706-1790). American printer, publisher, scientist, inventor, statesman and diplomat. Oil on canvas, c1785, after Joseph Siffred Duplessis, first owned by Thomas Jefferson

Portrait of 1st Viscount Horatio Nelson, 1785-1805
This is a photographic reproduction of a painting of the 1st Viscount Horatio Nelson who lived from 1758 to 1805

Cagliostro / Saint-Germain
Cagliostros interview with the Comte de Saint-Germain at Holstein

FRANKLIN: WAY TO WEALTH. First page of Benjamin Franklins book of advice, The Way to Wealth, originally published in 1758

Corps des Ingenieurs Geographes militaires, Officier, 1785 (coloured engraving)
2794129 Corps des Ingenieurs Geographes militaires, Officier, 1785 (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Corps des Ingenieurs Geographes militaires)

RIEGO, Rafael de (1785-1823). Spanish liberal military man, leader of the military coup of 1820. Romanticism. Oil on canvas. SPAIN. MADRID (AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY). Madrid

Blanchard and Jeffries crossing English Channel
Jean-Pierre Blanchard and Dr John Jeffries crossing the English Channel by balloon. They left Dover, crossed the sea, and landed near Blanay, between Calais and Boulogne

British Coats of Arms
Royal coats of arms of Britain Henry VIII 1518, 1535; Elizabeth I 1576, 1578; Charles I; William & Mary 1689 Anne 1713; George I 1725; George II 1749; George III 1785

Lady Nelson
LADY FRANCES NELSON Originally Frances Woolward, she met Horatio Nelson in 1785 and married him in 1787

Walter Landor
WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR - British poet, dramatist and prose writer

William Whitehead
WILLIAM WHITEHEAD writer, Poet Laureate Date: 1715 - 1785

The Aerial Colossus
Plate showing The Aerial Colossus, a machine of an entire new construction now making by M. Prossor, with which he will ascend into the atmosphere when finished. 9 March 1785

COUNT de GRASSE (1722-1788). Comte François Joseph Paul de Grasse. French naval officer. Line engraving, English, 1785

Theatre Royal, Covent Garden Handbill
Theatre Royal Handbill advertising the Marriage of Figaro and Virtues Triumph. Date: January 13th 1785

Adam Sedgwick
ADAM SEDGWICK Geologist

Blanchard Flies Channel
Jean-Pierre Blanchard and Dr John Jefferies are the first people to cross the English Channel by air : their flight from Dover ends in the forest of Guines, near Andres

Lunardis Second Balloon
Vincent Lunardi makes his second ascent, from St Georges Fields, London

Louis Xvii, French Royal
LOUIS XVII Titular King of France 1793 - 1795 Son of Louis XVI

Blanchard Channel Cross
Jean-Pierre Blanchard and Dr John Jefferies are the first people to cross the English Channel by air : their flight from Dover ends in the forest of Guines, near Andres

Thomas De Quincey / Mote
THOMAS DE QUINCEY English author

Cagliostro & Lottery
Fashionable ladies call on Cagliostro hoping that he will help them win the Lottery

Botanical print by Sir William Jackson Hooker, FRS, 1785 aaa 1865, English botanical
Botanical print by Sir William Jackson Hooker, FRS, 1785 aa 1865, English botanical illustrator. He held the post of Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University

Vincenzo Lunardi (1759-1806) Italian aeronaut. Made the first hydrogen balloon ascent in Britain, Moorfields, London
530535 Vincenzo Lunardi (1759-1806) Italian aeronaut. Made the first hydrogen balloon ascent in Britain, Moorfields, London, 15 September 1784

A Group of Aeronauts. Vincenzo Lunardi (1759-1806), in Edinburgh for his ascent of 5 October 10 1785
530536 A Group of Aeronauts. Vincenzo Lunardi (1759-1806), in Edinburgh for his ascent of 5 October 10 1785, surrounded by local ballooning enthusiasts, l.to r

First balloon crossing of English Channel, 7 January 1785 by Jean-Pierre Blanchard, French inventor
528362 First balloon crossing of English Channel, 7 January 1785 by Jean-Pierre Blanchard, French inventor, and American Dr John Jeffries from Dover to Guines, 2 hours 30 mins

Muse of poetry mourning the death of Voltaire (La Muse de la poésie pleurant la mort de... 1785)
Muse of poetry mourning the death of Voltaire (La Muse de la poesie pleurant la mort de... 1785. Found in the collection of the Musee du Louvre, Paris

Colias croceus - mating
Fabrizio Daminelli

American Flamingo, Phoenicopterus Ruber, 1845 American Flamingo, Phoenicopterus Ruber. From The Birds of America by John J. Audubon. Pub. 1827-1838 (colour lithograph)

American White Pelican, Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos, 1845 American White Pelican, Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos. From The Birds of America by John J. Audubon. Pub. 1827-1838 (colour lithograph)

The Death of Cleopatra, 1785. Private Collection

Gallic Wars - Titus Labienus hatches a trap
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Titus Labienus hatches a trap to get the Treveri to cross the river before his troops, attacking them later. Engraving

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Ambiorix, leader of the Eburons tribe, joins the Hainaut and Namur tribes, attacks the camp of Quintus Tullius Cicero and sets fire to it. Engraving

Quintus Titurius Sabinus and Arunculcius Cotta are attacked
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Quintus Titurius Sabinus and Arunculcius Cotta, attacked by Ambiorix, forming their troops in a circle. Engraving

Caesar disembarked in Britain (54 BC), placing his ships on dry ground within his camp. Engraving. Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Caesar attacks the Germanic camp
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Caesar led his troops across the Rhine in 55 BC for a punitive expedition against the Germanic tribes

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Battle of the Sambre (July 57 BC)
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Caesar's campaign against the Belgae in 57 B.C. Battle of the Sambre (July 57 BC). Confrontation between Julius Caesar's legions

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). The battle of the Aisne (57 BC)
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Caesar's campaign against the Belgae in 57 BC. The battle of the Aisne (57 BC). The Belgic tribes cross the Aisne River through the right

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Battle of Vosges (58 BC)
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). First campaign against the Germanic tribes (58 BC). Battle of Vosges (58 BC). Combat between the Germanic tribe of the Suebi under the command of Ariovistus against six

Gallic Wars - Ariovistus, Suebi leader, deploys his cavalry
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). First campaign against the Germanic tribes (58 BC). Ariovistus, the Suebi leader, deploys his cavalry

Campaign against the Helvetii (58 BC). Defeat of the Helvetii and pursuit of Caesar. Engraving. Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques, critiques et militaires by Count Turpin de Crisse

Caesar's position to receive the Helvetii
Campaign against the Helvetii (58 BC). Caesar's position to receive the Helvetii advancing towards him. Engraving. Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques

Defeat of a quarter of the Swiss in the Saone pass
Campaign against the Helvetii (58 BC). Defeat of a quarter of the Helvetii in the Saone pass. Engraving. Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques, critiques et militaires

Gallic Wars. The Helvetii's attempt to cross the Rhine
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Campaign against the Helvetii (58 BC). The Helvetii's attempt to cross the Rhine and Caesar's entrenchments. Engraving

Dedication page to the King. Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques, critiques et militaires, by Count Turpin de Crisse. Volume I. Published in Montargis and sold in Paris, 1785

Commentaires de Cesar by Count Turpin de Crisse Volume I
Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques, critiques et militaires, by Count Turpin de Crisse. Volume I. Published in Montargis and sold in Paris, 1785

Gaius Julius Caesar - Roman politician, general and writer
Gaius Julius Caesar (100 BC - 44 BC). Roman politician, general and writer. In 60 BC he established a triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus. Conquered Gaul

Lancelot Turpin de Crisse (1716-1793). French military
Lancelot Turpin de Crisse (Compte Turpin de Crisse) (1716-1793). French military and writer. Portrait. Engraving by Picquenot

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"1785: A Year of Innovation, Exploration, and Influence" In the year 1785, the world witnessed remarkable advancements that shaped history. The invention of the steam engine revolutionized industries and propelled humanity into a new era of progress. Meanwhile, Benjamin Franklin, a multifaceted genius renowned for his contributions to science and diplomacy, graced canvases in an oil portrait capturing his brilliance. Amongst the notable figures depicted during this time was Horatio Nelson, whose portrait immortalized his legacy as a distinguished naval officer from 1785 to 1805. In parallel with these achievements emerged enigmatic personalities like Cagliostro and Saint-Germain who captivated imaginations with their mysterious lives. Benjamin Franklin's influential book "The Way to Wealth" offered invaluable advice on achieving success and financial prosperity. Its first page served as a guiding light for countless individuals seeking guidance in their pursuit of happiness. The year also witnessed awe-inspiring feats such as the flight of "The Aerial Colossus, " showcasing mankind's relentless desire to conquer the skies. Walter Landor's artistic prowess flourished during this period while Blanchard and Jeffries etched their names in history by crossing the English Channel through daring aerial exploration. British coats of arms symbolized national pride while Lady Nelson became an emblematic figure representing elegance and grace within society. William Whitehead's poetic mastery continued to inspire hearts across generations with his timeless verses. Count de Grasse left an indelible mark on French naval history through his exceptional leadership skills displayed during battles at sea. His line engraving captured him in all his glory - a testament to bravery amidst turbulent times. As we reflect upon 1785, we are reminded that it was not merely another year passing by but rather a pivotal moment where innovation thrived alongside artistry; where great minds pushed boundaries; where heroes were born; where legacies were forged forevermore.