Linguistic Collection

Development of the English alphabet. The Old Greek alphabet derived from Phoenician and was in use by 900-800 BC. A western variant, known as the Euboean or Cumae alphabet

Pictographs and linear script symbols. The British archaeologist Arthur Evans (1851-1941) found thousands of clay tablets dating from the second millennium BC at Knossos, Crete

Egyptian and Assyrian counting systems. Early methods of number counting involved the use of fingers, while early written records used strokes to indicate numbers

Love in Twenty-four Languages (colour litho)
8656920 Love in Twenty-four Languages (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Love in Twenty-four Languages)

Joseph Ernest Renan (1823-1892) (engraving)
5672160 Joseph Ernest Renan (1823-1892) (engraving); (add.info.: French expert of Semitic languages and civilizations (philology), philosopher, historian, and writer

Wallachian Hillmen founding a City, Ninth Century (litho)
8661423 Wallachian Hillmen founding a City, Ninth Century (litho) by Valda, John Harris (1874-1942); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wallachian Hillmen founding a City, Ninth Century)

Rameses II receiving a Copy of his Treaty with the Hittites (litho)
8660916 Rameses II receiving a Copy of his Treaty with the Hittites (litho) by Stewart, Allan (1865-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rameses II receiving a Copy of his Treaty with the Hittites)

Ticket, The Booking Office, Luggage, Porter (colour litho)
8622643 Ticket, The Booking Office, Luggage, Porter (colour litho) by German School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ticket, The Booking Office, Luggage, Porter)

Children looking through a kaleidoscope (chromolitho)
8677282 Children looking through a kaleidoscope (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Children looking through a kaleidoscope)

Hazelnut, loquat, turnip, walnut and nilgai (colour litho)
8677470 Hazelnut, loquat, turnip, walnut and nilgai (colour litho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: N for noisette (hazelnut), nefle (loquat), navet (turnip)

O for odalisque (concubine) (chromolitho)
8677327 O for odalisque (concubine) (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: O for odalisque (concubine). Concubine in a Turkish harem

M for marine (chromolitho)
8677325 M for marine (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: M for marine. Man dressed in a marine's uniform by the sea)

I for Italian (chromolitho)
8677323 I for Italian (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: I for Italian. Woman in traditional Italian costume drawing water from a well)

Children playing a xylophone (chromolitho)
8677296 Children playing a xylophone (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Children playing a xylophone)

Girl playing with toy kitchen utensils (chromolitho)
8677295 Girl playing with toy kitchen utensils (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girl playing with toy kitchen utensils)

Children playing a game of ferret (chromolitho)
8677279 Children playing a game of ferret (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Children playing a game of ferret)

Secretarybird, brown rat, wild boar and mouse (colour litho)
8677384 Secretarybird, brown rat, wild boar and mouse (colour litho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.:s for secretaire (secretarybird), surmulot (brown rat)

Honey badger, raccoon, and stingray (colour litho)
8677383 Honey badger, raccoon, and stingray (colour litho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Q and R for ratel (honey badger), raton (raccoon)

French-speaking Switzerland, 1400 (coloured engraving)
8673048 French-speaking Switzerland, 1400 (coloured engraving) by Swiss School, (19th Century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Map of French-speaking Switzerland, 1400)

Submission, Authority (litho)
8641363 Submission, Authority (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Submission, Authority)

T for tambour (drummer) (chromolitho)
8677334 T for tambour (drummer) (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: T for tambour (drummer). Boy in costume playing a drum

V for vivandiere (woman canteen keeper in the military) (chromolitho)
8677333 V for vivandiere (woman canteen keeper in the military) (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Q for quenouille (spinner) (chromolitho)
8677331 Q for quenouille (spinner) (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Q for quenouille (spinner). Woman or girl with a distaff used in spinning

S for Swiss (chromolitho)
8677329s for Swiss (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.:s for Swiss. Woman in traditional Swiss costume carrying a tray of drinks)

Children playing with a ball (chromolitho)
8677328 Children playing with a ball (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Children playing with a ball)

J for juggler (chromolitho)
8677324 J for juggler (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: J for juggler. Woman or girl juggling balls)

D for dragoon (chromolitho)
8677321 D for dragoon (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: D for dragoon. Man in military uniform with a letter)

E for equilibrist (chromolitho)
8677319 E for equilibrist (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: E for equilibrist. Woman performer balancing objects)

C for canoeist (chromolitho)
8677318 C for canoeist (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: C for canoeist. Boy with a canoe paddle by a lake or river)

Toucan, bull and turtle (colour litho)
8677385 Toucan, bull and turtle (colour litho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: T and U for toucan, taureau (bull) and tortue (turtle)

K for Kleber (chromolitho)
8677361 K for Kleber (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: K for Kleber. Jean-Baptiste Kleber (1753-1800), French general during the Napoleonic Wars

X for xeres (sherry) (chromolitho)
8677335 X for xeres (sherry) (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: X for xeres (sherry). Man holding a sherry glass aloft

G for gendarme (chromolitho)
8677322 G for gendarme (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: G for gendarme. Man in a gendarme's uniform with gun and sword)

Children ice skating (chromolitho)
8677280 Children ice skating (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Children ice skating)

Page of a manuscript representing the allegories of Dialectics (associated with Zarathustra (Zarathushtra)
BEN5464500 Page of a manuscript representing the allegories of Dialectics (associated with Zarathustra (Zarathushtra, Zarathushtra)

Portrait of Cicero or Marcus Tullius Cicero in a page of a manuscript representing the allegories of Dialectics
BEN5464493 Portrait of Cicero or Marcus Tullius Cicero in a page of a manuscript representing the allegories of Dialectics (associated with Zarathustra (Zarathushtra, Zarathushtra)

Student using an Edison phonograph to learn a language, 1893
3478800 Student using an Edison phonograph to learn a language, 1893; (add.info.: Student using an Edison phonograph to learn a language)

Children having a snowball fight (chromolitho)
8677342 Children having a snowball fight (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Children having a snowball fight)

F for fruiterer (chromolitho)
8677320 F for fruiterer (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: F for fruiterer. Woman cutting fruit on a counter)

A for artist (chromolitho)
8677316 A for artist (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: A for artist. Man painting a picture with canvas and easel)

B for baby (chromolitho)
8677314 B for baby (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: B for baby. Woman combing the hair of a young girl)

Children playing with a toy yacht (chromolitho)
8677300 Children playing with a toy yacht (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Children playing with a toy yacht)

Children playing a throwing game (chromolitho)
8677294 Children playing a throwing game (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Children playing a throwing game)

Turkey, moose and elephant (colour litho)
8677422 Turkey, moose and elephant (colour litho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: D for dindon (turkey) and E for elan (moose) and elephant

Rabbit, lizard, llama and wolf (colour litho)
8677380 Rabbit, lizard, llama and wolf (colour litho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: K and L for lapin (rabbit), lezard (lizard)

Ram, buzzard, and ibex (colour litho)
8677378 Ram, buzzard, and ibex (colour litho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: B for belier (ram), buse (buzzard), bouquetin (ibex)

Falcon, weasel and pheasant (colour litho)
8677376 Falcon, weasel and pheasant (colour litho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: F for faucon (falcon), fouine (weasel) and faisan (pheasant)

H for Hercules (chromolitho)
8677363 H for Hercules (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: H for Hercules. Hercules lifting weights to show his strength)

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"Linguistic Journey: Exploring the Origins and Diversity of Language" Embark on a fascinating linguistic journey as we delve into various aspects that shape our communication. From the development of the English alphabet to ancient Egyptian and Assyrian counting systems, language has evolved over centuries. Intriguingly, meet a girl from the Dusan People in Sabah State, North Borneo, showcasing how languages thrive within diverse cultures. Similarly, discover Irish potatoes through a captivating color lithograph that highlights their significance in culinary traditions. Uncover the legendary Tower of Babel through an enchanting engraving, symbolizing both unity and diversity in human languages. Delve further into language's influence with "The Language of the Meat Card, " depicted vividly in another color lithograph. Explore wisdom encapsulated in "One Hundred Proverbs" where even a little man can cast a large shadow or find hidden motives behind religious symbols like crosses. Witness language barriers portrayed comically yet realistically in "The Language Difficulty" set amidst Parisian streets. Experience everyday life captured beautifully through chromolithographs depicting gardens, towns, and homes - all scenes where language plays an integral role. Meet Elizabeth Smith, an accomplished English linguist and scholar whose contributions have shaped our understanding of languages. Finally, encounter Ivan Meshchaninov - a Soviet Russian linguist and ethnographer who unraveled cultural intricacies through his work. These engravings and photographs remind us that language is not merely words but also bridges connecting people across time and space. Join us on this enthralling expedition unraveling linguistic wonders; it will leave you amazed at how something as intangible as words can shape our world so profoundly.