Pick Axe Collection

Solidarity of Labour: Labours May Day, dedicated to the workers of the world. Cartoon of 1890 by Walter Crane (1845 - 1914)

Female Lumberjacks
Two young women, female lumberjacks, chopping wood with huge axes on a college farm in Finchley, north London, England

Rasselas and Imlac digging a tunnel
Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, together with his companion, the wise man Imlac, digging a tunnel in order to escape the Happy Valley and see what life is like beyond it

Collieries, c1805. Pithead scene at a coal mine. At the bottom a horse whim is raising coal from the pit and a man is breaking coal with a pick

Underground scene in a coal mine in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area of England, 1823. Miners hewing coal and carrying away in corves (baskets). From Scenes of British Wealth by the Rev Isaac Taylor

Fossil trees in coal mine
Fossilised trees and plants found in a coal mine. Date: C.1870

Interior of a coal mine, 1862. Underground scene in a mine, showing a miner winning coal, while a wagon full of coal is being hauled along rails to the bottom of the pit shaft by a pony

Brazil Wood, Swithland, Leicestershire
Sketch of quarrying (probably granite) at Brazil Wood, Swithland, Leicestershire, by Reverend Baden Powell (1796-1860), father of Robert Baden Powell. 1859

An engraving depicting a miner working at the coal face using a pick, 19th century
5310990 An engraving depicting a miner working at the coal face using a pick, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1877); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Pick-axe made with a walrus tusk, stone hatchet of Alaska, wooden instrument with claws used by the Chukchi (Chukchi)
FLO4722585 Pick-axe made with a walrus tusk, stone hatchet of Alaska, wooden instrument with claws used by the Chukchi (Chukchi) people to hunt walrus, tomb of the Unalaskans, and baidar (boat)

Underwater diving suit. 19th century (engraving)
672994 Underwater diving suit. 19th century (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An Alpinist and his equipment
5312035 An Alpinist and his equipment; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an Alpinist and his equipment including picks, canteen, snow shoes and spikes for boots)

The works of the Metropolitan extension railway in Smithfield, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
The works of the Metropolitan extension railway in Smithfield, [London], 1864. View from the bottom of Cow-cross and St. John-street towards the south-west

The Chaudière Gold-Fields, Canada: the diggings on a tributary of the Chaudière, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
The Chaudiere Gold-Fields, Canada: the diggings on a tributary of the Chaudiere, 1864. 'Forty-eight years ago a woman, engaged in washing, found a large nugget of gold

Celebration at Jersey of the Opening of the Channel Islands Telegraph, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Celebration at Jersey of the Opening of the Channel Islands Telegraph, 1858. View of...the scene of popular excitement on the occasion in the streets of St. Helier

The Revolution in Sicily - the Sicilians demolishing the Fort of Castellamare at Palermo... 1860. Creator: Unknown
The Revolution in Sicily - the Sicilians demolishing the Fort of Castellamare at Palermo - from a sketch by T. Nast, 1860

French Attack North of Hurtebise; Southern entrance to the Dragon cave, ... 1917. Creator: Unknown
French Attack North of Hurtebise; Southern entrance to the Dragon Cave, a real place d'armes (300 masters out of 100)

The Revolution in Sicily - the Sicilians demolishing the Fort of Castellamare at Palermo... 1860. Creator: Unknown
The Revolution in Sicily - the Sicilians demolishing the Fort of Castellamare at Palermo - from a sketch by T. Nast, 1860

"What's O'Clock? What's O'Clock?" - drawn by Godwin, 1860. Creator: W Thomas
"What's O'Clock? What's O'Clock?" - drawn by Godwin, 1860. In this little Sketch, so unpretending in character, yet so charming for its very simplicity, Mr

Church of St. Vladimir, in a Russian cemetery, French extreme left, 1856. Creator: Edward Alfred Goodall
Church of St. Vladimir, in a Russian cemetery, French extreme left, 1856. Scene from the Crimean War - French soldiers in a graffiti-ed church

L'horticulture : Esquisse pour l'école de la rue Château-Landon, 10ème arrondissement... c.1881
L'horticulture : Esquisse pour l'ecole de la rue Chateau-Landon, 10eme arrondissement de Paris, c.1881. Horticulture

America First poster, between 1911 and 1920. Creator: Harris & Ewing. America First poster, between 1911 and 1920
America First poster, between 1911 and 1920. Uncle Sam shaking a European immigrant by the hand, with text in multiple languages including Italian, Polish, Hebrew, Czech

Posters. New York, 1890s-1907. c1901. Creator: Edward Penfield
Posters. New York, 1890s-1907. c1901. [Publisher: Harper Publications; Place: New York]

Armored car, between 1916 and 1918. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Armored car, between 1916 and 1918
Armored car, between 1916 and 1918. USA

'Choses vues a la guerre; territoriaux revenant de corvee sous la pluie. 1915. Creator: Georges Leroux
Choses vues a la guerre; territoriaux revenant de corvee sous la pluie, 1915. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVII

'The Graphic, Front Cover Saturday, December 19, 1891, 1891. Creator: Unknown
'The Graphic, Front Cover Saturday, December 19, 1891, 1891. The Fighting near Gilgit on the Northwestern Frontier of India. From "The Graphic

The Siege of Sebastopol - Working Party of Highlanders and Sailors in the 21-Gun Battery, 1854. Creator: Unknown
The Siege of Sebastopol - Working Party of Highlanders and Sailors in the 21-Gun Battery, 1854. Crimean War....the French...opened heavily on the Quarantine Battery

Sappers repairing the road between Schumla and Varna, 1854. Creator: Unknown
Sappers repairing the road between Schumla and Varna, 1854. British soldiers during the Crimean War. The fortified town of Schumla, now Shumen in Bulgaria, was strategically important

Mallet, Pick and Shovel, 1808/47. Creator: Joshua Cristall
Mallet, Pick and Shovel, 1808/47

Wicker Basket, Mallet, Shovel, Pick, 1808/47. Creator: Joshua Cristall
Wicker Basket, Mallet, Shovel, Pick, 1808/47

Members of the South Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps at work by torchlight in the gardens... 1862. Creator: Unknown
Members of the South Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps at work by torchlight in the gardens of Burlington House, Piccadilly, clearing the ground for a drill-shed, 1862

Hard Times, 1885, (c1930). Creator: Hubert von Herkomer
Hard Times, 1885, (c1930). A family rest by the side of the road. The fathers tools, tied in a bundle, indicate that he is looking for manual labour

Americans throwing the cargoes of the tea ships into the river, at Boston
2630651 Americans throwing the cargoes of the tea ships into the river, at Boston, from History of the North Americas, pub

Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin, Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet)... A.H. 931 / A
Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin, Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami, A.H. 931/A.D. 1524-25

Miners at work on the Mesabi Range in northeast Minnesota, 1903. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Miners at work on the Mesabi Range in northeast Minnesota, 1903

Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print)
3268017 Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print) by Clayton, William (fl.1865); Manchester Art Gallery

Hard Times, 1885 (oil on canvas)
MAN67430 Hard Times, 1885 (oil on canvas) by Herkomer, Hubert von (1849-1914); 86.5x112 cm; Manchester Art Gallery, UK; (add.info.: by Hubert von Herkomer); © Manchester Art Gallery

Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print)
3386337 Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print) by Clayton, William (fl.1865); Manchester Art Gallery

Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print)
3386335 Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print) by Clayton, William (fl.1865); Manchester Art Gallery

Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print)
3427409 Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print) by Clayton, William (fl.1865); Manchester Art Gallery

Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print)
3427410 Workers from the Tredegar Iron Works, Wales, 1865 (albumen print) by Clayton, William (fl.1865); Manchester Art Gallery

The Demolisher, 1897-99 (oil on canvas)
7241665 The Demolisher, 1897-99 (oil on canvas) by Signac, Paul (1863-1935); Musee des Beaux-Arts, Nancy, France; (add.info.: The Demolition Worker. Oil on Canvas)

Construction workman wrecking a church on Independence Avenue, Washington, D. C, 1942. Creator: Gordon Parks
Washington, D.C. Construction workman wrecking a church on Independence Avenue

Ascent of the Dent Blanche, 1898 (colour engraving)
PER360332 Ascent of the Dent Blanche, 1898 (colour engraving) by Castelli (fl.1877-98); Private Collection; (add.info.: the Dent Blanche is a mountain in the Swiss alps; )

Coal miner working deep below ground by light of Davy Lamp, early 19th century (hand-coloured engraving)
3245426 Coal miner working deep below ground by light of Davy Lamp, early 19th century (hand-coloured engraving) by British School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Pictures

La Fontaines Fables - The Miser and his Friend
Vintage engraving from La Fontaines Fables, Illustraed by Gustave Dore. The Miser and his Friend

The Youngest Daughter, January 1894. Creator: Theophile Alexandre Steinlen
The Youngest Daughter, January 1894

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"Unyielding Strength and Unity: Celebrating the Pick Axe on Labour's May Day" In a world where solidarity of labour prevails, the pick axe stands tall as a symbol of unwavering determination. From the bustling forests to the depths of coal mines, this humble tool has been wielded by both men and women alike, breaking barriers and defying stereotypes. Picture Rasselas and Imlac, their hands gripping pick axes tightly as they dig tirelessly through solid rock, carving a tunnel towards freedom. Their sweat-soaked brows speak volumes about their unrelenting spirit in pursuit of progress. Travel back in time to Swithland, Leicestershire, where Brazil Wood echoes with the resounding strikes of pick axes against ancient trees turned fossilized treasures. Witness how these tools unearth history itself from deep within the earth's core. Step into an eerie scene captured in 1862 - an interior view of a coal mine. The dimly lit tunnels bear witness to countless hours spent by brave souls wielding pick axes with precision and skill. Each swing brings them closer to extracting black gold that fuels nations. Glimpse into another era through oil paintings like "Hard Times" created in 1885 by Hubert von Herkomer. Here we see workers etching their mark upon society using nothing but sheer force and trusty pick axes as companions. The Tredegar Iron Works comes alive before our eyes through albumen prints from 1865. Workers stand proudly side by side, united under one cause - shaping a better future for themselves and generations yet to come. Their calloused hands clutching sturdy handles serve as testament to their resilience. As we reflect on these images spanning decades and continents, let us remember that behind every strike lies not just physical exertion but also hope for brighter tomorrows. The pick axe embodies the indomitable human spirit when faced with challenges too great to bear alone.