Undercover Collection

Algernon Blackwood & Alfred Taylor, WW1
Algernon Henry Blackwood (1869-1951), English author and playwright, particularly known for his supernatural fiction and ghost stories

Human shadow over sprawling roots on a banyan tree

Scotland Yard in the early hours of the morning, the Embankment (sepia photo)
STC347692 Scotland Yard in the early hours of the morning, the Embankment (sepia photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The ladies who were... policemen (colour litho)
2777856 The ladies who were... policemen (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: The ladies who were... cops)

Canine Smugglers, from A Hundred Anecdotes of Animals, pub. 1924 (engraving)
3481220 Canine Smugglers, from A Hundred Anecdotes of Animals, pub. 1924 (engraving) by Billingshurst, Percy J. (1871-1933); The Stapleton Collection; out of copyright

I Swear You Are an Englishman : the authors disguise is exposed in Herat
TRV227729 I Swear You Are an Englishman : the authors disguise is exposed in Herat, from Travels in Central Asia...in...1863, 1864 by Arminius Vambery (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School

A conspiracy, c. 1905 (pen, brush & ink on paper)
863212 A conspiracy, c.1905 (pen, brush & ink on paper) by Strang, William (1859-1921); Private Collection; Abbott and Holder, London, UK; Scottish, out of copyright

A group of Scotland Yard detectives in various disguises seen here before setting out on a special observation mission which resulted in the important capture of a cunning gang of thieves. circa 1905

The arrest of Arton, 1895. Artist: Frederic Lix
The arrest of Arton, 1895. An illustration from Le Petit Journal, 1st December 1895

The Battle of the Aisne, 25th September 1914, (1919). Artist: Andre Helle
The Battle of the Aisne, 25th September 1914, (1919). A book of the principal events of the war period. A print from Le livre des heures heroiques et douloureuses

The Shopping Arcade des Panoramas in Paris, 1807. Artist: Philibert Louis Debucourt
The Shopping Arcade des Panoramas in Paris, 1807. From the Musee Carnavalet, Paris

JGM11613WT080
Ashland Covered Bridge in Delaware

Tessina spy camera
Close-up of the Tessina camera, small enough for spying activities and other undercover work. Date: 1970s

Ken Achurch with spying equipment -- a fly bug in a glass tube, and a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Date: 1970s

Nipple radio transmitter for use in spying. Date: 1970s

Model fly for use in spying
Model fly invented by Ken Achurch for use in spying and other undercover activities. Date: 1970s

Entrance to A London Workhouse at Nightfall
An impression of the entrance to an unidentified London Workhouse at nightfall. The illustration may have been inspired by journalist James Greenwoods 1866 undercover expose of conditions in

A Night In a London workhouse
An illustration inspired by journalist James Greenwoods undercover expos頩 n 1866 of conditions in the tramps ward of the Lambeth workhouse. Date: 1866

A Military Escapade, c. 1794 (pen & ink with w / c and wash over graphite on paper)
XYC283582 A Military Escapade, c.1794 (pen & ink with w/c and wash over graphite on paper) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 38.7x27.5 cm; Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection

Edmond O Donovan, illustration from Merv, A Story of Adventures and Captivity
KW270857 Edmond O Donovan, illustration from Merv, A Story of Adventures and Captivity, published in 1883 (engraving) by English School

Portrait of a young woman with long hair, finger on her mouth

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"Unveiling the Shadows: Unearthing Secrets and Espionage" In the dimly lit corners of Scotland Yard, as dawn broke over London's Embankment, a sepia photograph captured a clandestine world. Algernon Blackwood and Alfred Taylor, two enigmatic figures from WW1, embarked on undercover missions that would forever alter history. Amongst them were the ladies who defied societal norms to become policemen - their vibrant presence immortalized in a vivid colour lithograph. These brave women infiltrated criminal networks with finesse, their determination unmatched. But it wasn't just humans involved in these covert operations; even animals played their part. Canine smugglers operated under the radar, evading detection with cunning precision. A hundred anecdotes of animals told tales of their loyalty and resourcefulness. Yet sometimes even the most skilled spies faced exposure. In Herat, an Englishman's disguise was unveiled by those he sought to deceive - "I Swear You Are an Englishman, " they exclaimed in disbelief. Conspiracies loomed large during this era of intrigue and subterfuge. A captivating pen and ink drawing from 1905 depicted a web of secrets woven meticulously behind closed doors - each stroke revealing another layer to unravel. Arrests were made amidst chaos and danger; Frederic Lix's arresting artwork showcased one such moment when Arton was apprehended in 1895. The battle between truth and deception raged on relentlessly. Amidst the turmoil of war, Andre Helle's poignant painting portrayed The Battle of Aisne on September 25th, 1914 - soldiers fighting valiantly while hidden agendas simmered beneath the surface. Meanwhile, across borders lay Paris' Shopping Arcade des Panoramas in 1807 - bustling with activity but also harboring whispered conversations among spies seeking vital information for their cause. Ken Achurch equipped himself with cutting-edge spying equipment, his dedication to uncovering secrets unparalleled.