Archetype Collection

Personification of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with Flag - interesting only captioned as Austria. Date: circa 1910

The American Great White Fleet arrives in Australia - Uncle Sam meeting a Kangaroo. On 20 August 1908 well over half a million Sydneysiders turned out to watch the arrival of the Fleet

First Balkan War (1912 - 1913) - Hand-to-hand combat
Hand-to-hand combat during the First Balkan War as Greek troops overun a Turkish gun battery. The war lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League (Serbia, Montenegro, Greece)

1883 Richard Owens study ex BMNH
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892). 1883 portrait in his home study for The Graphic magazine. The year he retired from the BMNH

Cartoon, John Bull is forced to accept American aid from Uncle Sam. Date: 1879

British Lion Seated
The British Lion sitting in an armchair with a copy of The Times newspaper in his jacket pocket and a flag flying behind him

Great Britain - Union Flag with modern Britannia and Lion
Great Britain - Union Flag with a modern Britannia and more traditional Lion. Date: 1906

WW1 - The British Lion wide awake and ready for action
WW1 era postcard sent in December 1914 - By this stage, the British Lion (sat on a large Union flag was " wide awake" and ready for action. Date: 1914

A woman in the costume of Britannia
A woman dressed up in the costume of National Archetype Britannia complete with helmet trident and union flag shield! Date: circa 1909

1st Rank French pre-dreadnought battleship the Republique. Date: circa 1917

The Head of Germania - Dresden, Germany
The Head of Germania - the National monument on Niederwald Plaza (Square)- created by Johannes Schilling - Dresden, Germany. Date: circa 1909

Archetype - Personification of Wales - Traditional Costume
Archetype - Personification of Wales - Full Traditional Costume. The Prince of Waless feathers is the heraldic badge of the Prince of Wales. The leek is another popular Welsh symbol. Date: 1903

Britannia by Felix Desruelles at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Britannia by Felix-Alexandre Desruelles (18651943) at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France - commemorating the arrival of the British troops in 1914

In Honour Bound - Patriotic postcard - WW1
In Honour Bound - Patriotic postcard depicting the flags of the Victorious Allies of WW1. Date: circa 1918

The Girls Friendly Society Pageant at the Royal Albert Hall
Australia - The Girls Friendly Society Pageant at the Royal Albert Hall on July 4th, 1925. Date: 1925

Gavroche, 19th Century (b / w engraving)
909621 Gavroche, 19th Century (b/w engraving) by Bayard, Emile Antoine (1837-91); Private Collection; (add.info.: Published in Cent dessins)

Dracula (Vlad Tepes ), 1491 (woodcut) (see also 473197)
473192 Dracula (Vlad Tepes ), 1491 (woodcut) (see also 473197) by German School, (15th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Vlad III)

John Bull or You Dont Bamboozle - music hall song of 1862 by W. F. & Willem Vandervell. The character was a very popular symbol of the traditional Englishman

Patriotic French Postcard - Little soldiers and Marianne
" Allons Enfants de la patrie..." A row of Patriotic little soldiers line up and stand to attention before the Personification of France

ALPHONSE DE ROTHSCHILD French banker, caricatured as archetype Jew planning to take over the world 1827 - 1905

Cute girl with roses (b / w photo)
1095068 Cute girl with roses (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cute girl with roses)

Dracula (Vlad Tepes ) (woodcut), 1488-93 (see also 473192)
473197 Dracula (Vlad Tepes ) (woodcut), 1488-93 (see also 473192) by German School, (15th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Vlad III)

A typical Italian immigrant with a carpet bag, 1912 (coloured engraving)
PNP256715 A typical Italian immigrant with a carpet bag, 1912 (coloured engraving) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark American Pictures; American, out of copyright

The Swiss National Day - 1st August
1st August 1915 - The Swiss National Day - celebrating the founding of the Swiss Confederacy. Painting by Henri van Muyden (1860-1936)

Justice - a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Liberte class. Date: circa 1917

Flaulx - a French Naval battleship. Date: circa 1917

WW1 - Italy - Remembrance postcard - " In the glorious memories of the past, she raises the Italian flag - her cry is Victory!" Date: circa 1917

Jean Russell in Fancy Dress as Britannia Date: circa 1920s

The front cover of Wild West Weekly - No.1 Vol. 1 - 12th March 1938. Packed with first class stries and two free gifts! Date: 1938

Postcard celebrating Czech - USA relations post-WW1
Celebration of Czech-USA relations post-WW1. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and the United States played a major role in the establishment of Czechoslovakia on October 28, 1918

British Hunting Girl - American View - Red Ensign held aloft
Great Britain - Archetype / Personification - American View - Stylish hunting girl with crop, top hat and holding proudly aloft The Red Ensign or " Red Duster"

WW1 - Marianne pins a rosette onto a British Tommy - " Take this back to Tipperary". Date: 1915

WWI - British Lion leads cubs of the Colonial Territories
Following in the Footsteps of the Dear Old Dad A Father-figure British Lion leads his four Cubs (representing Britains Colonial Territories of Canada, India)

Where the name John Bull comes from? - ? TopFoto
Where the name " John Bull" comes from? - ? TopFoto

WW1 - German Propaganda - A Call to Arms Like Thunder. Date: 1914

WW1 - Encouraging investment in the Commercial Bank of Italy
" Give your shield to Italy" - a WW1-era card encouraging investment in the new 5% Italian loan available through the Commercial Bank of Italy. circa 1917

Japanese Anti-Chinese Propaganda - John Bull and Uncle Sam
Japanese Anti-Chinese Propaganda featuring a representation of Japan (as a military General), alongside John Bull (Britain) and Uncle Sam (USA)

The British Empire - Britannia looks out to sea from her perch atop the White Cliffs of Dover, defender of a proud nation, yet with her sights set further afield... Date: circa 1900

French Propaganda postcard - WWI
A French propaganda card from the end of the First World War, depicting a defiant Marianne, ordering Kaiser Wilhelm II ( The Cruel )

Greek Anti-British Propaganda Postcard - this translates as: " Greek Soldiers - this is whom you are fighting!" The British forces are characterised as a fat John Bull

WW2 - I m doing my share for Uncle Sam - Patriotic envelope - sent from Great Lakes, Illinois. Date: 1944

Victorious Irish guard decorated by Madeleine
" Take this back to Tipperary" - At the end of WW1, a victorious Irish guard is decorated by a thankful Madeleine, the personification of the French State. Date: circa 1918

Britain Russia & France join forces for good of Civilisation
WW1 Patriotic postcard - Britain Russia & France join forces for good of Civilisation. Germany felt that She only needed to speak for people to tremble.... (but that is just not the case!) Date: 1915

Mariano Moreno
Postcard celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the May Revolution in Argentina, featuring an inset portrait of Mariano Moreno - (1778-1811) - an Argentine lawyer, journalist, and politician

Fancy Dress - WW1 - Group as patriotic national archetypes including Peace, Marianne, Britannia, Liberty and a lady from Japan

Representation of Liberty - USA
Representation of Lady Liberty - USA Date: circa 1890

WWI - German Infantry Officer Date: 1914

Repeating Pattern - French girl in Tricolore scarf / hat (green background). *PLEASE NOTE that the magnifying glass is solely to show the detail of the repeating pattern

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"Archetype: Unveiling the Symbolic Tapestry of Nations" From the personification of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with its majestic flag fluttering proudly in the wind, to the intense hand-to-hand combat during the First Balkan War, history has witnessed archetypes that embody nations' identities and aspirations. In 1912-1913, as tensions escalated in Europe, a vivid portrayal of bravery emerged through images capturing soldiers engaged in fierce battles. The American Great White Fleet's arrival in Australia symbolized both power projection and international diplomacy at play. Delving deeper into history, we find Richard Owens' groundbreaking study from 1883 at BMNH. This research shed light on evolutionary archetypes that connect various species across time and space. Political cartoons have long been used to convey complex messages. In one such illustration dating back to 1879, John Bull reluctantly accepts aid from Uncle Sam - an archetype representing American influence on British affairs. The iconic image of a seated British Lion alongside modern Britannia underlines Great Britain's enduring strength and unity represented by its Union Flag. A patriotic postcard titled "In Honour Bound" captures the spirit of sacrifice during World War I. Moving beyond politics, cultural events like The Girls Friendly Society Pageant at Royal Albert Hall showcased women dressed as Britannia - an embodiment of national identity intertwined with female empowerment. During World War I, another powerful archetype emerged - a woman donning Britannia's costume standing tall amidst chaos; it epitomized resilience and determination against adversity. Meanwhile, France boasted its naval might through vessels like the Republique – a first-rank pre-dreadnought battleship exemplifying French maritime prowess and military grandeur. These captivating glimpses into historical archetypes remind us that symbols hold immense power in shaping collective consciousness. They evoke emotions ranging from pride to solidarity while connecting generations through shared narratives.