Cross Bones Collection

TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT, 1887. Devils Toboggan Slide. Temperance broadsheet published, 1887, at Kalamazoo, Michigan

Nungessers Attempt - 1
French WW1 air ace Charles Nungesser, with colleague Coli, before their attempt to fly the Atlantic in the Oiseau Blanc ( White Bird ) : they vanish, either at sea or in Maine

Ship Flying Jolly Roger
A typical pirate ship flying the jolly roger flag

Skull and Crossbones - Inverted
The Jolly Roger is the name given to any of various flags flown to identify a ships crew as pirates. The flag most usually identified as the Jolly Roger today is the skull and crossbones

Skull and Crossbones
The Jolly Roger is the name given to any of various flags flown to identify a ships crew as pirates. The flag most usually identified as the Jolly Roger today is the skull and crossbones

A Consultation of Physicians, or The Company of Undertakers
STC451216 A Consultation of Physicians, or The Company of Undertakers, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook, pub

Skeleton and Skull
A skeleton, and a skull and crossbones

SKULL AND CROSSBONES. Symbol of death. Line engraving

Frontispiece to Londons Remembrancer by John Bell
XJF135333 Frontispiece to Londons Remembrancer by John Bell, 1665 (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School, (17th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Tombstone of Marjorie and Beatrix Smyth, 1666-69 (stone)
3249135 Tombstone of Marjorie and Beatrix Smyth, 1666-69 (stone) by Scottish School, (17th century); St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney

STAMP ACT: CARTOON, 1765. O! the fatal Stamp. A warning inspired by the Stamp Act, printed in the Pennsylvania Journal, 1765

Skull and crossbones military button
A small skull and crossbones military button, probably from the uniform of the 17th/21st Lancers, a British cavalry regiment formed in 1922. Their motto was Death Or Glory. Date: circa 1930s

Kaiser Wilhelm II in Deaths Head Hussars uniform
Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941), German Emperor, seen here in the uniform of the Deaths Head Hussars (the 7th Hussars). Date: circa early 20th century

SKULL AND CROSSBONES. International symbol for poison

STAMP ACT: CARTOON, 1765. O! the fatal Stamp. A warning inspired by the Stamp Act, printed in the Pennsylvania Journal, 1765

BEELZEBUB, 19th CENTURY. Beelzebub, the Biblical demon prince, Lord of the Flies (Matthew 12: 24): wood engraving
BEELZEBUB, 19th CENTURY. Beelzebub, the Biblical demon prince, Lord of the Flies (Matthew 12:24): wood engraving, French, 19th century

Pirate flag
Jolly Roger flag flying in former pirate seaport, Savannah, Georgia. Digital photograph

Elevation Catafalque Surmounted Royal Crown Scull
Artokoloro

A Consultation of Physicians, 1736 (engraving)
XJF396074 A Consultation of Physicians, 1736 (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); Private Collection; (add.info.: the doctors hold canes which would have been filled with disinfectant; The)

NEW YORK: STAMP ACT, 1765. A demonstration against the Stamp Act in New York City, 1 November 1765. Wood engraving, American, c1850

POSADA: CALAVERA ZAPATISTA. Zinc engraving, 1910-12, attributed to Jos

Children in their pirates cave
Pretending to be pirates Date: Circa 1880

piracy, conceptual artwork
Copyright piracy, conceptual computer artwork

London doctors, satirical artwork
The Company of Undertakers (1736), also known as Consultation of Quacks. This satirical artwork was designed and engraved by the English artist William Hogarth (1697-1764)

Origin Species, CH Bennett, Fat man - pig
Piggish. Satire on Darwins Origin of Species showing the evolution of a man who eats too much, from a pig. This old glutton, fond of good eating is a natural descendant of the pig

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"Unveiling the Dark Symbol: The Cross Bones Legacy" In 1887, amidst the fervor of the Temperance Movement, a chilling discovery emerged. A devilish toboggan slide was unveiled in Kalamazoo, Michigan - an unexpected twist in the fight against alcohol consumption. This revelation led to the publication of a haunting broadsheet that sent shivers down spines. Amidst this tempestuous era, a ship soared through stormy seas with its Jolly Roger flag flying high. The Nungessers attempted to tame these treacherous waters and left behind tales of bravery and adventure. The inverted skull and crossbones symbolized death's grip on society, serving as a stark reminder of mortality. It became an emblematic motif etched into history - from line engravings to frontispieces in John Bell's "London Remembrancer. " Even tombstones bore witness to this macabre fascination; Marjorie and Beatrix Smyth's resting place showcased their departure from this world between 1666-69. Centuries later, during America's struggle for independence, a cartoon warned against the fatal Stamp Act of 1765. Its message echoed throughout Pennsylvania Journal pages as citizens rallied against oppression. Intriguingly, even Kaiser Wilhelm II donned the Deaths Head Hussars uniform adorned with skull insignia - embodying both power and foreboding. Through these various glimpses into history emerges one resounding theme: humanity's fascination with mortality has endured across time and cultures. They have become an enduring symbol representing death itself - captivating artists' imaginations and provoking contemplation among physicians or undertakers alike. As we navigate life's uncertain voyage, let us not forget how our ancestors grappled with mortality through artistry and symbolism. May we find solace in understanding that while death is inevitable, it is also what gives meaning to our existence.