Literary showcase | The National Archives

Uncover some of the eclectic images held at The National Archives this month as we focus on literary figures through the ages. The images below portray some of the best authors, playwrights and thinkers of their respective times.

First and foremost we pay tribute to William Shakespeare for his birthday on 23 April. We include a portrait as well as an extract from the playwright's will. The National Savings Committee poster also celebrates some of Shakespeare’s contemporaries in the ‘Golden Age’ of Britain.

Among the wills of notable people held here, is that of the popular 19th century novelist Jane Austen - we include an extract here. A rarely seen photograph of the co-founder of the Salvation Army, Catherine Booth, is also depicted. Catherine successfully campaigned for women’s right to preach and wrote many articles and books to wide acclaim.

Colourful cartoons from novels by Dickens show the humour of his characters. An advertising poster of a Sherlock Holmes play sits nicely with our portrait of his famous creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

For more images of authors and famous people contact: image-library@nationalarchives.gov.uk

Shakespeare portrait
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/pro30-25-205-shakespeare-portrait.jpg
Catalogue reference: PRO 30/25/205
Will of William Shakespeare, 1616
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/prob1-4-(2)-will-of-william-shakespeare-p2-of-3-signature-detail-1616.jpg
Catalogue reference: PROB 1/4 (2)
National Savings poster, William Shakespeare & the Golden Age, 1963
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Catalogue reference: NSC 5/446
Will of Jane Austen, 10 September 1817
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/prob1-78-(1-of-2)-will-of-jane-austen-10-september-1817.jpg
Catalogue reference: PROB 1/78
Catherine Booth, 1882
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/copy1-59-(461)-catherine-booth-1882.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/59 (461)
Sherlock Holmes poster, Lyceum Theatre, 1905
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/copy1-232-(424)-sherlock-holmes-poster-lyceum-theatre-1905.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/232 (424)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1896
/images/imagelibrary/showcase//literary/copy1-425(i)-sir-arthur-conan-doyle-1896.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/425(i)
Portrait of Charles Dickens
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/copy1-440-(37)-portrait-of-charles-dickens-1899.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/440 (37)
Nickolas Nickleby, by Ludovici, 1904
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/copy1-213-(304a)-nickolas-nickleby-ludovici-1904.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/213 (304a)
Signature of Charles Dickens
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/c31-1392-1635-signature-of-charles-dickens.jpg
Catalogue reference: C 31/1392/1635
Charles Dickens and his characters, 1911
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/copy1-563-charles-dickens-and-his-characters-1911.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/563
Joseph Conrad's Certificate of Naturalisation, 1886
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/ho334-13-home-office-certificates-of-naturalisation-no4800--joseph-conrad-1886-p2-of-2.jpg
Catalogue reference: HO 334/13
George Bernard Shaw, 1905
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/copy1-485(i)-george-bernard-shaw-1905.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/485 (152)
J M Barrie, 1894
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/literary/copy1-417-(88)-j-m-barrie-1894.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/417 (88)

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

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Shakespeare portraitCatalogue reference: PRO 30/25/205Will of William Shakespeare, 1616Catalogue reference: PROB 1/4 (2)National Savings poster, William Shakespeare & the Golden Age, 1963Catalogue reference: NSC 5/446Will of Jane Austen, 10 September 1817Catalogue reference: PROB 1/78Catherine Booth, 1882Catalogue reference: COPY 1/59 (461)Sherlock Holmes poster, Lyceum Theatre, 1905Catalogue reference: COPY 1/232 (424)Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1896Catalogue reference: COPY 1/425(i)Portrait of Charles DickensCatalogue reference: COPY 1/440 (37)Nickolas Nickleby, by Ludovici, 1904Catalogue reference: COPY 1/213 (304a)Signature of Charles DickensCatalogue reference: C 31/1392/1635Charles Dickens and his characters, 1911Catalogue reference: COPY 1/563Joseph Conrad's Certificate of Naturalisation, 1886Catalogue reference: HO 334/13George Bernard Shaw, 1905Catalogue reference: COPY 1/485 (152)J M Barrie, 1894Catalogue reference: COPY 1/417 (88)