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The National Archives holds copyright images and artwork inherited from Stationers' Hall under the Copyright Acts previously in force. There is an especially high volume of material between 1890 and the end of 1912 and this is contained in our record set COPY 1.

Prints of paintings, drawings and original photographs, commercial labels and advertisements are attached to a registration form. The forms briefly describe the item with date, name and address of the registering person or company.

These images reflect almost every aspect of Victorian and Edwardian society. Photographs depict trades in mining, farming and street vending or people simply going about their daily life. The material also emphasises the growing consumerism of the period due to industrialisation. A number of overseas images relate to trade and Britain’s colonial past.

Among the commercial artists and photographers whose work can be found in these records are: John Hassall, Tom Browne and Louis Wain, Eadward Muybridge, Frank Sutcliffe and PH Emerson.

Be part of our rich national heritage of designs, artwork and photography. To commercially reproduce these images as posters or on other products, contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk

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  • Picture alphabet, 1885

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy1-68-picture-alphabet-1885.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/68

  • Insurance waterproof, 1893

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy-1-109-(117)-insurance-waterproof-1893.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/109 (117)

  • American Peach Blossom Soap, 1885

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy-1-71-(88)-american-peach-blossom-soap-1885.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/71 (88)

  • Jack's Pure Tea, 1899

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy-1-146(ii)-(27)-jacks-pure-tea-1899.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/146(ii) (27)

  • Empire Self-Raising Flour, 1901

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy-1-180-(292)-empire-self-raising-flour-1901.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/180 (292)

  • A. Döri shoe sampler, 1894

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy1-114(i)-(93)-a-dori-shoe-sampler-1894.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/114(i) (93)

  • Wilford's Rat Cheese Cake rat poison, 1901

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy1-176-(110)-wilfords-rat-cheese-cake-rat-poison-1901.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/176 (110)

  • Ladies' fashion, 1904

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy1-220b-(63a)-ladies-fashion-1904.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/220B (63a)

  • Bucking horse, by E Muybridge, 1887

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy-1-389(ii)-(58a)-bucking-horse-by-e-muybridge-1887.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/389(ii) (58a)

  • Women in telephone exchange, 1900

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy1-446-(210)-women-in-telephone-exchange-1900.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/446 (210)

  • Pearce's beef steak puddings, 1891

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy1-404-pearces-beef-steak-puddings-1891.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/404

  • Horse drawn and electric trams in Sheffield, 1900

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy1-448-horse-drawn-and-electric-trams-in-sheffield-1900.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/448

  • Interior of London District Line train carriage, 1911

    /images/imagelibrary/showcase/advertising/copy1-556-(94)-interior-of-london-district-line-carriage-1911.jpg

    Catalogue reference: COPY 1/556 (94)

This is just a selection. Contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk for more image solutions.

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