Semaphore Collection

The Railway Junction. A signal changing from stop to go. This is a classic British semaphore stop signal (lower quadrant type)

Sailors demonstrating flag semaphore system

Channel tunnel. Historical artwork of a tunnel beneath the English Channel through which Napoleons troops are moving to invade England

Nelsons signal at Trafalgar in 1805, from The Boys Own Paper
XND76005 Nelsons signal at Trafalgar in 1805, from The Boys Own Paper to commemorate HMS Victory moored at Portsmouth, 1885 (litho) by May, Walter William (1831-96); Private Collection; English

The Naze Tower, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
The Naze Tower at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. An historic landmark, it was built on the cliffs in 1721 by Trinity House as a navigation mark to guide shipping

CLAUDE CHAPPE 1763-1805
CLAUDE CHAPPE French Engineer. Invented a telegraph system employing visual semaphore signals. With his brother, he erected signals between Paris & Lille

The Semaphore at Portsmouth
5616541 The Semaphore at Portsmouth; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the Semaphore at Portsmouth. Dated 19th Century. 01/01/1860); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The system of signalling by flag semaphore
5616529 The system of signalling by flag semaphore; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the system of signaling by flag semaphore the telegraphy system)

House's electric printing telegraph, 1850
3479965 House's electric printing telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: House's electric printing telegraph. An electrical telegraph is a telegraph that uses electrical signals)

Tsar Nicholas I inaugurating the semaphore telegraph line between Moscow and Warsaw in 1833 (engraving)
541879 Tsar Nicholas I inaugurating the semaphore telegraph line between Moscow and Warsaw in 1833 (engraving); (add.info.: Tsar Ncholas I (1796-1855)

Claude Chappe's (1763-1805) aerial telegraph (semaphore) system in use in Algeria. c1870. Engraving
541882 Claude Chappe's (1763-1805) aerial telegraph (semaphore) system in use in Algeria. c1870. Engraving; (add.info.: From Louis Figuier Les Merveilles de la Science)

The facade of the Duke of York's School
5616542 The facade of the Duke of York's School; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the facade of the Duke of York's School, Chelsea. Dated 19th Century)

The system of signalling by flag semaphore
5616527 The system of signalling by flag semaphore; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the system of signaling by flag semaphore the telegraphy system)

The system of signalling by flag semaphore
5616525 The system of signalling by flag semaphore; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the system of signaling by flag semaphore the telegraphy system)

The facade of the Duke of York's School
5616539 The facade of the Duke of York's School; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the facade of the Duke of York's School, Chelsea. Dated 19th Century)

Artist's impression of Claude Chappe demonstrating his optical telegraph system in 1793, c.1870. Engraving
540001 Artist's impression of Claude Chappe demonstrating his optical telegraph system in 1793, c.1870. Engraving; (add.info)

A Semaphore station on Staten Island
5616538 A Semaphore station on Staten Island; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a Semaphore station on Staten Island, New York Bay. Dated 19th Century. 01/01/1838); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A Semaphore station on Staten Island
5616537 A Semaphore station on Staten Island; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a Semaphore station on Staten Island, New York Bay. Dated 19th Century. 01/01/1838); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The Semaphore at Portsmouth
5616536 The Semaphore at Portsmouth; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the Semaphore at Portsmouth. Dated 19th Century. 01/01/1860); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The system of signalling by flag semaphore
5616531 The system of signalling by flag semaphore; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the system of signaling by flag semaphore the telegraphy system)

Advertisement for Beecham's Pills
5616526 Advertisement for Beecham's Pills; (add.info.: Advertisement for Beecham's Pills using Navy semaphore. Dated 19th Century. 01/01/1890); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Prussian Optical Telegraph, 1885 (engraving)
2452699 Prussian Optical Telegraph, 1885 (engraving); (add.info.: Science. Communication. Prussian optical telegraph, Germany)

Junior Naval Scout on U.S.S. Recruit, 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Junior Naval Scout on U.S.S. Recruit, 1917. A Junior Naval recruit semaphore flag signalling on the U.S.S. Recruit, a fake battleship built in Union Square

Frank A. Daniels, Right, with Brother Jonathan Daniels, 1915. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Frank A
Frank A. Daniels, Right, with Brother Jonathan Daniels, 1915. Sons of US politician Josephus Daniels and suffragist Addie Worth Bagley

Frank A. Daniels, Right, with Brother Jonathan Daniels, 1915. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Frank A
Frank A. Daniels, Right, with Brother Jonathan Daniels, 1915. Sons of US politician Josephus Daniels and suffragist Addie Worth Bagley

Frank A. Daniels, Right, with Brother Jonathan Daniels, 1915. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Frank A
Frank A. Daniels, Right, with Brother Jonathan Daniels, 1915. Sons of US politician Josephus Daniels and suffragist Addie Worth Bagley

Frank A. Daniels, Right, with Brother Jonathan Daniels, 1915. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Frank A
Frank A. Daniels, Right, with Brother Jonathan Daniels, 1915. Sons of US politician Josephus Daniels and suffragist Addie Worth Bagley

'BEECHAMS PILLS 3 BOXES for the Captain H.M.S.Swallow at Montevideo December 17th 1889, 1890. Creator: Unknown
'BEECHAMS PILLS 3 BOXES for the Captain; H.M.S.Swallow at Montevideo December 17th 1889, 1890. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 41. January to June, 1890

Signaling, between 1910 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Signaling, between 1910 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Signaling, between 1910 and 1917. USA. Man in military uniform teaching women (scout leaders?) semaphore

Burma DUKWs (known as Ducks) take supplies and reinforcements from the Chindwin River to forward British troops driving on Mandalay, Burma during the Second World War

Le Dramont Beach and Isle d Or Island, Saint Raphael, Var, Provence-Alpes-CA'te d Azur, France

Le Dramont Cape, Saint Raphael, Var, Provence-Alpes-Ca'te d Azur, France
Le Dramont Cape, Saint Raphael, Var, Provence-Alpes-CA'te d Azur, France

Telegraph House, constructed on the site of a West Sussex semaphore-station, was the home of Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) and Dora (his second wife)

Aerial Telegraph (Semaphore), 1901 (print)
539606 Aerial Telegraph (Semaphore), 1901 (print) by French School, (20th century); (add.info.: Aerial Telegraph (Semaphore)

Panoramic View of the Iles du Salut, showing the Ile du Diable where Ex-Captain Dreyfus is imprisoned (litho)
1064040 Panoramic View of the Iles du Salut, showing the Ile du Diable where Ex-Captain Dreyfus is imprisoned (litho) by English School

Claude Chappe (chromolitho)
669420 Claude Chappe (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Claude Chappe, French inventor of a semaphore signalling system in the 1790s)

Claude Chappes telegraph (colour litho)
2807710 Claude Chappes telegraph (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Claude Chappes telegraph)

An aerial telegraph system used in England in the 18th century
2619086 An aerial telegraph system used in England in the 18th century, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; French

An aerial telegraph post in the 18th century, from Les Merveilles de la Science
2619085 An aerial telegraph post in the 18th century, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Tsar Nicholas I inaugurating the semaphore telegraph line between Moscow
2619087 Tsar Nicholas I inaugurating the semaphore telegraph line between Moscow and Warsaw in 1833, using a modification of Claude Chappes semaphore system, from Les Merveilles de la Science

The ancient Greek hydraulic semaphore system being used by Aeneas to send a message
2619078 The ancient Greek hydraulic semaphore system being used by Aeneas to send a message, 4th century BC, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (engraving) by French School

Famous craftsmen (colour litho)
3099326 Famous craftsmen (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Famous craftsmen)

Semaphore telegraph
View of the semaphore tower in 1810. On the south side of St. Georges Road, Stoke Newington, formerly stood a tall boarded structure which served as a semaphore telegraph tower. Date: 1875

French-Telegraph Making Signals in the Dark, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1795
NCO190449 French-Telegraph Making Signals in the Dark, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1795 (etching with aquatint) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College

Flags used at sea for communication, c. 1900 (colour litho)
CHT220328 Flags used at sea for communication, c.1900 (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Service Historique de la Marine, Vincennes

Chinese military equipment, illustration from Le Costume Ancien et Moderne
STC232904 Chinese military equipment, illustration from Le Costume Ancien et Moderne by Giulio Ferrario, published c.1820s-30s (colour litho) by Rancati

Terrific Apparition - Londons First Traffic Light 1869
Terrific Apparition - Seen during the recent fog at Westminster. A satire on Londons First Traffic Light. Invented by J P Knight, a railway signalling engineer

Telegraph plant, Codariocalyx motorius (Sensitive hedysarum, Hedysarum gyrans). Handcoloured copperplate engraving after an illustration by Richard Duppa from his The Classes

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"Unlocking the Language of Communication: Semaphore's Historical Significance" Semaphore, a system of visual communication using flags or arms, has played a crucial role in various aspects of history. From railway junctions to naval operations and even modern telecommunications, it has left an indelible mark on our world. At the Railway Junction, semaphore signals guided trains safely along their tracks, ensuring efficient transportation and preventing accidents. Sailors demonstrating the flag semaphore system showcased its effectiveness in relaying messages across vast distances at sea. The Channel Tunnel owes part of its success to semaphore's predecessor - Claude Chappe's optical telegraph system. This innovative technology enabled rapid communication between England and France during its construction. In 1805, Nelson's signal at Trafalgar demonstrated how semaphore could be used strategically in warfare. The Boys Own Paper captured this historic moment when Nelson sent his famous message "England expects that every man will do his duty. " The Naze Tower in Essex stands as a testament to both maritime navigation and early telecommunication systems like semaphore. It served as a lookout point for sailors while also housing semaphores to relay important messages along the coast. Telegraph House holds great significance within the history of semaphore. Constructed on the site of a West Sussex semaphore-station, it became home to renowned philosopher Bertrand Russell and his second wife Dora. Here they established Beacon Hill School which embraced progressive education methods. This captivating form of communication extended beyond land-based applications; capital ships utilized G. H Davis' aerial telegraph (semaphore) during battle maneuvers around 1901. Its efficiency allowed swift transmission of orders amidst chaos. Even with advancements such as electric telegraphs emerging later on, Telegraph House remained an emblematic location for Russell’s intellectual pursuits until 1970 when he passed away alongside memories steeped in semaphoric heritage. Semaphore continues to fascinate us today – whether through historical accounts or artistic depictions.