Mercantile Collection

Flags & Funnels
House flags and funnels carried by steam ships belonging to some of the main companies of the British Mercantile Marine

Trial of Anchors at the Royal Dockyard, Sheerness, July 1852
Engraving of a trial of various anchor designs, held at the Royal Dockyard Sheerness, from the Illustrated London News, 17th July 1852

Spithead panorama, ships on south side
Panorama of the Coronation Review: the left-hand section, showing ships on the south side. A Spithead panorama, looking west: home fleet battleships headed by the Nelson foreign warships

Albert Docks Liverpool
A Tallship in the Albert Docks at Liverpool, once one of the busiest ports in the country, now a busy tourist centre

East Indiaman Ceres off St Helena, 1788 (oil on canvas)
REA196699 East Indiaman Ceres off St Helena, 1788 (oil on canvas) by Luny, Thomas (1759-1837); 147.3x221 cm; Private Collection; eRoyal Exchange Art Gallery at Cork Street, London; English

Southern Barbarians Come to Trade, pair of six-panel screens, early 17th century (ink
1152501 Southern Barbarians Come to Trade, pair of six-panel screens, early 17th century (ink, colour, gold & gold leaf on paper) (see also 1152500) by Kano Naizen (1570-1616) (attr)

Mountain bikers head into Polebridge while riding on the Great Divide Route in Montana (MR)

Harbour, Danzig
The harbour, Danzig, with old mercantile buildings

London docks mid 19th century (engraving)
6117993 London docks mid 19th century (engraving); (add.info.: View of the London docks in the mid 19th century. From Monuments Anciens et Modernes by Jules Gailhabaud)

Flamsteed House in Greenwich Park, London, designed by Christopher Wren on the orders of Charles II as an Observatory
541715 Flamsteed House in Greenwich Park, London, designed by Christopher Wren on the orders of Charles II as an Observatory

The Return to Amsterdam of the Second Expedition to the East Indies, 1599. Creator: Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom
The Return to Amsterdam of the Second Expedition to the East Indies, 1599

Portrait of Roelof Meulenaer, 1650. Creator: Ferdinand Bol
Portrait of Roelof Meulenaer, 1650. Other Title(s): Roelof Meulenaer (1618/19-1691). Amsterdam Mercantile Courier or Postmaster on the Antwerp Route

Southern Mercantile Co. Pine Bluff, Ark. 1902. Creator: Unknown
Southern Mercantile Co. Pine Bluff, Ark. 1902

The Boston Tea Party - a political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1773

Archangel, Russia - The Surkow & Shergold Timber Deal Yard
Arkhangelsk (Archangel), Russia - The Surkow & Shergold Timber Deal Yard. The Shergolds arrived in Russia from Britain in the late 18th century

Ocean Liners - four stock certificates. Cunard Steam Ship Company Limited, RMS Titanic Inc, and International Mercantile Marine Company. Date: early 20th century

White Star Line - company share certificate
White Star Line - International Mercantile Marine Company share certificate. Date: circa 1920

White Star Line - Buffalo china dinner plate
White Star Line - International Mercantile Co. Buffalo china dinner plate. 9.5 inches

Etienne Marcel
3783161 Etienne Marcel; (add.info.: Etienne Marcel. Provost of the merchants of Paris under King John II, called John the Good (Jean le Bon). c. 1310-1358. Engraving by Nargeot, c.1844

Detail of the Southern Barbarians Come to Trade, pair of six-panel screens
1191876 Detail of the Southern Barbarians Come to Trade, pair of six-panel screens, early 17th century (ink, colour, gold & gold leaf on paper) (see also 1152500) by Kano Naizen (1570-1616) (attr)

Detail of the Southern Barbarians Come to Trade, pair of six-panel screens
1191873 Detail of the Southern Barbarians Come to Trade, pair of six-panel screens, early 17th century (ink, colour, gold & gold leaf on paper) (see also 1152500) by Kano Naizen (1570-1616) (attr)

Italian characters from the 14th century (engraving)
957943 Italian characters from the 14th century (engraving) by Jacquemin, Raphael (1821-81); Private Collection; (add.info.: Italian characters from the 14th century)

Bank buildings, Singapore city, c. 1880 s
Bank buildings, Singapore city, c.1880 s

Posters, Bold, Clear & Attractive, The Mercantile Press, Ebury Street, London - man in the street carrying a sandwich board. Date: early 20th century

Porcelain and pottery shop, Japan, late 19th century

Caucasus Georgia Tiflis Tblisi - baker baking bread
Caucasus Georgia Tiflis Tblisi - a baker at work baking bread. Vintage 19th century photograph

Kuhn and Komor - tourist shop artifacts Water St Yokohama, J
Kuhn and Komor - a tourist shop selling Japanese artifacts, bronzes, porcelain, Water Street Yokohama, Japan. Vintage 19th century photograph

Cloth store Grand Bazaar, Constantinople, Istanbul, Turkey
Vintage 19th century photograph: Cloth store drapery in the Grand Bazaar, Constantinople, Istanbul, Turkey

Porter carrying corn husks for Tamales, Mexico
Vintage 19th century photograph: Porter carrying corn husks used for the Mexican dish Tamales, Mexico

Arrival of the Southern Barbarians (Portuguese traders at Nagasaki), Kano school
1074068 Arrival of the Southern Barbarians (Portuguese traders at Nagasaki), Kano school, early 17th century (ink, colour & gold leaf on paper, mounted on brocade) by Japanese School

Parade of the Victuallers, 1821 (watercolour on paper)
1767458 Parade of the Victuallers, 1821 (watercolour on paper) by Krimmel, Johann Ludwig (John Lewis) (1787-1821); 36.8x61 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Parade of the Victuallers)

Arrival of the Southern Barbarians (Portuguese traders at Nagasaki), Kano school
1191882 Arrival of the Southern Barbarians (Portuguese traders at Nagasaki), Kano school, early 17th century (ink, colour & gold leaf on paper)

Marchands (coloured engraving)
6016051 Marchands (coloured engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Marchands. Illustration for Costume du Moyen Age, D Apres les Manuscrits, les Peintures)

A Merchantman in Two Positions off the South Coast (oil on canvas)
JBN202300 A Merchantman in Two Positions off the South Coast (oil on canvas) by Whitcombe, Thomas (1760-1824); 53x76 cm; Private Collection; John Bennett Fine Paintings; English, out of copyright

West St. New York, 1870s (sepia photo)
STC306706 West St. New York, 1870s (sepia photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; American, out of copyright

Japanese vessels and ships, mercantile and fishing boats, one decorated with flags and banners, one with a pyramid-shaped sail

Commercial highways of the world (colour litho)
3648590 Commercial highways of the world (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Commercial highways of the world)

America - The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 16th 1773. 6 December 1773

Flags of our mercantile marine (chromolitho)
3643667 Flags of our mercantile marine (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Flags of our mercantile marine)

Arrival of Queen Elizabeth I at Nonesuch Palace and men and women from Tudor society
KDC324184 Arrival of Queen Elizabeth I at Nonesuch Palace and men and women from Tudor society, 1598 (hand coloured copper engraving) by Hoefnagel

The Leadenhall Volunteer, drest in his Shawl, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1797
NCO193134 The Leadenhall Volunteer, drest in his Shawl, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1797 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College

English women of the Elizabethan era, 1598 (hand coloured copper engraving)
KDC384161 English women of the Elizabethan era, 1598 (hand coloured copper engraving) by Hoefnagel, Joris (1542-1600); Private Collection; (add.info.: L to R:English maiden, wives of merchants)

View of the Marche des Innocents, c. 1840-45 (colour litho)
CHT169003 View of the Marche des Innocents, c.1840-45 (colour litho) by Benoist, Philippe (1813-c.1905); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Arrival of the Southern Barbarians (Portuguese traders at Nagasaki), Kano school
1191883 Arrival of the Southern Barbarians (Portuguese traders at Nagasaki), Kano school, early 17th century (ink, colour & gold leaf on paper)

Meat processing of the birds, detail from the tomb of Nakht, c. 1390 BC (wall painting)
5853841 Meat processing of the birds, detail from the tomb of Nakht, c.1390 BC (wall painting) by Egyptian 18th Dynasty (c.1567-1320 BC); Alinari Archives, Florence

The Midshipmans Mess on Board the Honourable Cos Ship Marchioness of Ely, c
CH406799 The Midshipmans Mess on Board the Honourable Cos Ship Marchioness of Ely, c.1826-32 (pen & ink and w/c on paper) by Allen, Anthony P

A Hunting Family (chromolitho)
1060053 A Hunting Family (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Hunting Family)

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Exploring the Mercantile World: From Historic Trials to Trade Routes" Step back in time to July 1852, as we witness the Trial of Anchors at the Royal Dockyard in Sheerness. The bustling scene showcases the maritime industry's dedication to innovation and improvement. In another captivating glimpse into history, a Spithead panorama reveals an impressive display of ships on the south side. Flags & Funnels flutter proudly, representing different nations and their mercantile prowess. Traveling further inland, we find ourselves at Albert Docks in Liverpool. This iconic location serves as a hub for trade and commerce, connecting merchants from around the world. Delving even deeper into history, a pair of six-panel screens from early 17th century Japan depicts Southern Barbarians Come to Trade. Ink strokes beautifully capture this significant moment when cultures collided through mercantile exchange. Fast forward to modern times; mountain bikers fearlessly head into Polebridge while riding on the Great Divide Route in Montana. Even amidst nature's grandeur, commerce finds its way through adventurous spirits seeking new experiences. Venturing across borders brings us to Danzig's vibrant harbor—a testament to centuries of international trade that has shaped this coastal city's identity. Ocean Liners take center stage with four stock certificates showcasing their significance within global commerce. These majestic vessels connected continents and facilitated economic growth on an unprecedented scale. The tragic tale of RMS Titanic unfolds through two insurance company letters—reminders that even monumental feats can be marred by unforeseen circumstances. Yet it is these stories that remind us how deeply intertwined mercantilism is with human history. White Star Line emerges once again—this time through a company share certificate and Buffalo china dinner plate—an embodiment of luxury travel during its era and symbols of opulence sought after by discerning patrons worldwide.