1853 Collection

Seance, Leipzig
Spiritualism comes to Germany - a table-lifting seance at Leipzig in the early days

Cecil Rhodes
CECIL RHODES Statesman, financier, imperialist. Caricatured as a colossus bestriding Africa

Cover of the vocal score of opera La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, 1853. Found in the collection of Museo Teatrale alla Scala

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)
Photograph of Sir Richard Francis Burton, the English explorer, linguist and diplomat. A master of up to 30 languages, Burton made a pilgrimage to Mecca disguised as a Pathan in 1853

Indian Smoothbore. 656 in musket, Pattern 1858
Indian Smoothbore.656 in musket, Pattern 1858, lock dated 1856.Converted from a Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket in India 1858 (c), this exceptionally rare item was part of an original issue of 10

The Yellow House at Arles
GOGH, Vincent van (1853-1890). The Yellow House at Arles. Post-Impressionism. Oil on canvas

Stone Asylum, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Entrance to the Buckinghamshire County Lunatic Asylum at Stone, near Aylesbury. A porter stands at the right of the gateway

PIT PONIES / 1853
Working with horses in the Bradley Mine, near Bilston, Staffordshire [England]

OTIS ELEVATOR WORKS, 1853. The Otis factory on the Hudson River in Yonkers, New York. Wood engraving, 1853

Dictyota dichotoma
Cyanotype photograph by Anna Atkins, one of the first natural history photographers. From British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, 1853. Date: 1853

A MIDSUMMER NIGHTs DREAM. William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream performed at Sadlers Wells Theatre, London, England, 1853. Wood engraving from a London newspaper of 1853

Solar system map from 1853
Historical map of the solar system, published in Germany in 1853. The main diagram shows the orbits of the first seven planets out to Uranus

Essex County Asylum, Brentwood, Essex
The Essex County Lunatic Asylum was established in 1853 at Warley Hill, Brentwood, Essex. It later became Brentwood Mental Hospital and then Warley Hospital

The Emigrant Ship Hercules off Cambelton, Scotland, 1853
Engraving showing the emigrant ship Hercules at anchor in Campbelton Harbour, Isle of Skye, 1853. The Hercules sailed from Skye that year with passengers emigrating for a new life in the British

Commander E. Smith, Captain of the Titanic
COMMANDER EDWARD. J SMITH Captain of the ill-fated Titanic. Commander Smith was a highly regarded and experienced captain who had worked on a number of White Star Liners before captaining

Cecil Rhodes / Davie / Hero
CECIL RHODES Statesman, entrepreneur and imperialist in South Africa, making peace with the Matabele, 1896

JOSE MARTI Cuban poet and freedom- fighter, active in cause of Cuban independence, killed fighting the Spanish

Orford Ness Lighthouse, Suffolk
View of Orfordness (Orford Ness) Lighthouse, and the station of the submarine electric telegraph linking England and Holland

Four hummingbirds with chicks in a nest
Four adult hummingbirds with chicks in a nest -- ornysmia trochilus moschita, ornysmia Vieilloti, ornysmia Sasin trochili cristati (in nest) ornysmia mellivorus

The Right Hon. Cecil J. Rhodes
Rhodes was a diamond and gold mining entrepreneur and worked for the De Beers Mining Company. He was born on the 5th July 1853 and died March 26th 1902

Hector Macdonald
Sir HECTOR MACDONALD British military, notably in South Africa

Four oyster shells, seen from different angles

Four members of the Corvidae family -- a raven (corvus corax) and three crows (corvus corone, corvus cornix and corvus frugilegus)

Lastrea dilatato British Anna Atkins 1799 1871
Lastrea dilatato, British; Anna Atkins (British, 1799 - 1871), and Anne Dixon (British, 1799 - 1877); England; 1853; Cyanotype; 25.4 × 19.5 cm (10 × 7 11, 16 in.)

Petrie at Daphne
The Pharoahs Palace at Daphne being excavated by renowned archaeologist William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853 - 1942) who devoted his life to studying Egyptian culture

Clipper Antarctic
American clipper ship

Leander Starr Jameson
SIR LEANDER STARR JAMESON known as Dr Jameson Scottish-born physician; adventurer and administrator in South Africa

Paranormal / Combustion
ALARMING CASE OF SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION Papa - emerging from a gin palace - is spontaneously combusted, to the surprise of his wife and child

Hector Macdonald
Sir HECTOR MACDONALD British military, notably in South Africa

SKULL AND CROSSBONES. Wood engraving, American, 1853

Belmont Hospital, Sutton, Surrey
Belmont Hospital, Brighton Road, Sutton. It began life in 1853 as the South Metropolitan District School, housing pauper children away from the workhouse

Iran / Tomb of Cyrus
The tomb is situated south of Pasargad, placed on top of a six-stage platform, surrounded by staircases. The ceiling is covered with five huge limestone roof stones. Date: 1853

BESSIERES, Jean-Baptiste (1768-1813). Marshal of the French Empire. Duke of Istria. He fought with Napoleon in the campaigns of Egypt, Spain and Russia

Musical gathering of composers and musicians, 1853
Musical gathering of composers and musicians in London. From left to right: A. Bazzini, H. Blagrove, Goffrie, Blumenthal, H. Vieuxtemps, Lazarus, S. Phatten, Jarrett, F

The Stevedores in Arles
GOGH, Vincent van (1853-1890). The Stevedores in Arles. Post-Impressionism. Oil on canvas

SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, 1853. American clipper ship designed by Donald McKay, The Sovereign of the Seas: wood engraving, 1853

County Lunatic Asylum, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Aerial view of the Buckinghamshire County Lunatic Asylum at Stone, near Aylesbury. The asylum, designed by Thomas Henry Wyatt and David Brandon, was opened in 1853

Burton on Trent
Distant view of Burton-upon- Trent, Staffordshire, justly famed for its breweries

Bill of fare from Crystal Palace, 31 / 12 / 1853
Menu for the dinner in the Iguanodon and original artwork by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, donated by his granddaughter Mary Hawkins

Melville Macnaghten
Sir MELVILLE LESLIE MACNAGHTEN Police chief, at Scotland Yard, played a leading part in the investigation into the nefarious misdeeds of Jack the Ripper

Cecil Rhodes / Menpes 1900
CECIL RHODES Statesman, entrepreneur and imperialist in South Africa, on horseback at his home at Grote Schuur, 1900

Guy Fawkes / Tar Barrel
Rolling a tar barrel on November 5th at Brighton

Allsopps pale-ale brewery 1853
Interior of Samuel Allsopp & Sons, pale-ale brewery in Haydon Square, London. Date: 1853

Reform Club / New Ministry
Gentlemen members in the Reform club- house await intelligence of the formation of the new ministry Date: 1853

NEW YORK: SLEEPY HOLLOW. View of the Old Dutch Church at Sleepy Hollow, New York. Wood engraving, American, 1853

CLIPPER SHIP, 1853. The English iron clipper Tayleur, which was lost on its maiden voyage from Liverpool to Australia in 1854

CLIPPER SHIP, 1853. The British clipper ship Guiding Star, chartered for the gold regions of Australia. Wood engraving, English, 1847

Mediumship / Satirical
THE PLEASURES OF HAT-MOVING To perform this scientific experiment, the experimenters must touch hands for 20 minutes or so

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In the year 1853, a tapestry of historical events unfolded, leaving an indelible mark on various aspects of society. Cecil Rhodes, a visionary and imperialist, was born in this transformative year. Little did he know that his ambitions would shape the future of Africa. Meanwhile, in Arles, France, Vincent van Gogh's iconic "The Yellow House" stood as a testament to his artistic genius. The vibrant hues captured within its walls echoed the spirit of creativity that permeated throughout the era. Sir Richard Francis Burton embarked on daring expeditions during this time. His insatiable thirst for adventure led him to discover hidden treasures and unravel mysteries across uncharted territories. Giuseppe Verdi's opera La Traviata graced stages worldwide with its enchanting melodies. The cover of its vocal score from 1853 serves as a visual reminder of Verdi's timeless contribution to classical music. Amidst the tranquil countryside of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire stood the Stone Asylum—a sanctuary for those seeking solace from life's trials and tribulations. Its sturdy walls provided refuge for troubled souls in need. On distant shores, soldiers armed themselves with Indian Smoothbore muskets—Pattern 1858—a weapon that symbolized power and dominance during times of conflict. Across the Atlantic Ocean in Yonkers, New York, Otis Elevator Works revolutionized urban landscapes by introducing safe vertical transportation systems. Their factory along the Hudson River became synonymous with progress and innovation. The Emigrant Ship Hercules sailed off Cambelton in Scotland—an emblematic image representing hope and new beginnings for countless individuals seeking better lives abroad. Cecil Rhodes emerged as both hero and villain throughout history—his legacy forever entwined with tales of conquests and controversies alike. From Davie to Hero—the Right Honorable Cecil J. Rhodes left an indomitable imprint on African politics.