Looking for innovative images? We have created new images from our archives to inspire you. Set your imagination free to create your own unique designs and contact us at licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk to license these bespoke images for your products.
As an example, we have taken a selection from our vast collection of textiles, wallpaper, tile and artefact Christopher Dresser designs to fill in the butterflies below. A contemporary of William Morris’ during the Victorian industrial era, Dresser wanted everyone to have access to beautiful designs and objects and is often referred to as ’The People’s Designer‘.
The Festival of Britain in 1951 celebrated Britain’s leading role in science, technology, art and design. Our slideshow below features Abram Games’s iconic Britannia emblem in a bunting shape. Why not insert an image of your choice from our records to personalise your own imagery? The front covers of exhibition pamphlets have been transformed here into a Warhol-like grid.
Perhaps you have a particular theme you want to promote visually. Our image, ’Must You Travel?’, on a green Union Jack resonates with the public’s desire for a greener Britain. It is devised from a Second World War poster, which asked people on the Home Front to save much-needed fuel for essential journeys only.
Crown images are visual shorthand for the state. Rare petitions featuring beautiful crown illustrations were sent to Queen Victoria celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. You can find crown images in our medieval or Tudor records. You can use the crown in isolation, like the Charles I image below.
So rework our images, or fill a shape with your favourite design and contact us to discover a unique way to use our images.
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Keep calm and read on
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-1-keep-calm-and-read-on.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 1
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Multiple butterflies from Board of Trade registers
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-2-multiple-butterflies-from-board-of-trade-design-registers.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 2
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Butterfly using two Board of Trade designs
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-3-butterfly-using-two-board-of-trade-designs.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 3
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1882 tile design from copyright registrations, on coloured background
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-4-tile-design-1882-from-board-of-trade-registeron-coloured-background.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 4
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1877 tile design from copyright registers, in flower shape
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-5-tile-design-1877-from-board-of-trade-register-in-flower-shape.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 5
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Charles I crown
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-6--charles-i-crown.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 6
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Board of Trade design in heart shape
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-7-board-of-trade-design-in-flower-shape.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 7
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Festival of Britain emblem 1951 by Abram Games in bunting
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-8-festival-of-britain-emblem-1951-by-abram-games-in-banner.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 8
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Victorian medicine labels in montage on coloured background
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-9-victorian-medicine-labels-in-montage-on-coloured-background.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 9
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Board of Trade design in flower shape, on coloured background
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-10-board-of-trade-design-in-flower-shape-on-coloured-background.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 10
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'Must you travel?' Second World War poster on Union Jack
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-11-must-you-travel-wwii-poster-on-union-jack.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 11
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Festival of Britain exhibition pamphlets, 1951, in grid format
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/creative-img/uniq-12-festival-of-britain-exhibition-pamphlets-1951-in-grid-format.jpgCatalogue reference: UNIQ 12
To create new images from our records, a copyright assignment letter must be signed and a licence obtained for actual use of existing or new images. Contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk for more details and to discuss the best image solutions for you.
