Lucky Collection (#8)

Wedding couple, 1940s
A newly married couple pose for the camera outside a church. Date: c.1945

Wedding couple, 1945
A just married bride and groom standing outside a church. Back of photograph includes a message thanking a Mrs Williams for all her help at the wedding on 9th June 1945 from Ivy and Cyril

Pierrot has good luck and bad
Heurs et Malheurs de Calino-Pierrot (Gluck und Ungluck des guten Michels) -- a Pierrot character experiencing good and bad luck in various situations. (2 of 2) 19th century

How Happy Could I be with Either
How happy could I be with either - Were t other dear charmer away - But while you thus teaze me together - To neither a word will I say (The Beggars Opera - John Gay, 1728). Date: 1906

Louis Wain, Daddy Cat - suppertime. circa 1910s

Darby & Joan Club
The Darby & Joan Club, Scratchley House, Thornton Heath, Surrey, where lucky members can enjoy old time sequence dancing, whist, bingo, snooker or darts... Date: 1970s

Cartoon, Pilot falling from plane, WW1
Cartoon, a German pilot falls from his plane towards an airfield below. He doesn t appear to have a parachute, but he feels fortunate to have his little dog mascot with him. Date: 1917

Lucky Cuss Restaurant, Tombstone
Painted wooden facia of the Lucky Cuss restaurant in the mining town of Tombstone, Arizona

For Good Luck by William Heath Robinson
Training black cats to enter the front door at the stroke of twelve on New Years Eve. A contraption to encourage a New Year tradition imagined by the cartoonist William Heath Robinson. Date: 1919

Good luck charms from J. C. Vickery, WW1
Advertisement displaying three types of lucky charm or good luck mascots available from J. C. Vickery of Regent Street, London, jewellers to Their Majesties

J. C. Vickery advertisement with Fums Up lucky mascot, WW1
Advertisement for J C. Vickery, Their Majesties Jeweller, featuring an active service watch with luminous hands and figures and FUMSUP" for luck, a popular lucky charm or talisman for soldiers

Lucky WWI bulldog mascot designed by John Hassall
A luck-bringer for soldiers at the front designed by the famous poster artist, John Hassall, and showing a British bulldog overturning the German eagle

CHARLES LUCKY LUCIANO (1897-1962). American (Italian-born) gangster. Being escorted into court. Photograph, 1936

Storks Nest - On a Chimney in Heidelberg, Germany
Storks Nest - On a Chimney in Heidelberg in the State of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Date: circa 1910s

The Bogey-Beast
The cheerful old lady considers herself lucky to encounter the BOGEY- BEAST, a mischievous but not particularly dangerous folklore creature

Emigration. Irish Emigrants Leaving Queenstown Harbour
Detailed harbour scene with hundreds of emigrants waiting for the boat for New York, steam ships in the background. In the foreground barefoot young lads are expectantly waiting

Virgo, The Virgin, 1923. One of a series of WD & HO Wills Cigarette Cards called Lucky Charms, (Bristol and London, 1923)

Leo, The Lion, 1923. One of a series of WD & HO Wills Cigarette Cards called Lucky Charms, (Bristol and London, 1923)

Cancer, The Crab, 1923. One of a series of WD & HO Wills Cigarette Cards called Lucky Charms, (Bristol and London, 1923)

Taurus, The Bull, 1923. One of a series of WD & HO Wills Cigarette Cards called Lucky Charms, (Bristol and London, 1923)

Gemini, The Twins, 1923. One of a series of WD & HO Wills Cigarette Cards called Lucky Charms, (Bristol and London, 1923)

Aries, The Ram, 1923. One of a series of WD & HO Wills Cigarette Cards called Lucky Charms, (Bristol and London, 1923)

Bone phallic amulet, 3rd century
Romano-celtic bone phallic lucky amulet or fertility charm, 3rd century

Green Mannequin Hand With Dice
Green Mannequin Hand rolling lucky number seven pair of dice with painted fingernails on yellow background with blue accents

The man who won the lottery... I have arrived"
The man who won the lottery... " I have arrived" and the ladies swarm around delighted! Date: circa 1908

My Lucky Star - Girl in Red Bathing Costume and Striped Cap. Date: circa 1920s

Christmas card, girl with black cat and mistletoe. circa 1905

Advert for Faulkner diamond jewellery 1901
A selection of novelty Edwardian diamond brooches, pearl necklace, earrings for non-pierced ears, and also a personalised name brooch to order. 1901

Advert for Goldsmiths & Silversmiths jewellery 1901
Selection of Edwardian novelty jewellery for Christmas gifts. 1901

Old Japanese Matchbox label with a horse in a horseshoe made in Japan for the Chinese market Date: c. 1910s

Advert for Goldsmiths & Silversmiths novelty jewelley 1896
A selection of Victorian novelty jewelley; pearl bracelet, brooches, necklace with heart pendant and a perl necklace with heart pendant. 1896

Advert for Bensons jewellery and bracelet watches 1889
Selection of novelty jewellery all with lucky moonstones and set with diamonds, and also a variety of womens bracelet wristwatches. All available from Bensons jewelers, Bond Street, London. 1889

Advert for Bensons Christmas jewellery 1889
Novelty jewellery to celebrate the 90 date (1890s) and also a variety of Christmas related theme brooches including holly, mistletoe and ivy, and also a selection of womens bracelet wristwatches

Jean Peron shows off two of his couture creations
At his salon on Regent Street, London, fashion designer Jean Peron shows off two of his beautiful couture creations to Mrs Philip Maufe

Christmas Greetings Postcard - two children and presents on a very windy day, threatening to carry them (and their umbrella) away! circa 1910s

Two pigs on a Good Luck card, one of them smoking a pipe. Date: circa 1890s

Four Mounted Policemen
Four members of the City of London Police setting off with their horses to present a lucky horseshoe to Miss Joan Macdonald (Ramsay Macdonalds daughter) for her wedding. Date: 16 September 1932

Advert / Lucky Strike Cigs
Lucky Strike cigarettes - they ll never let you down Date: 1935

Girl and Horseshoe
A girl stands in the snow holding a giant horseshoe to wish you a good New Year Date: circa 1905

Sir Brook Watson escaping from the jaws of a shark
Miraculous escape of Sir Brook Watson, 1st Baronet (1735-1807), merchant, soldier, and later Lord Mayor of London, from the jaws of a shark during his boyhood. He lost his right leg below the knee

Women in Sport - Lili de Alvarez
Spanish tennis player Elia " Lil� uot; lvarez (1905-1998), arriving in London for the Wimbledon championship with mascot in tow - a huge stuffed toy dog. Date: 1927

Dame Fortune smile on you
Lucky boy in period costume being chased by three pretty girls. Artist: Florence Hardy Date: 1903

May you be fortunes favourite
Lucky boy in period costume with a bunch of flowers surrounded by six pretty girls. Artist: Florence Hardy Date: 1903

Advert for Alexander Clark novelty jewellery 1901
Edwardian novelty jewellery, aromatic scented lucky pigs and spheres containing a woollen pad saturated with a fragrance, leaving a beautiful odour, comes in gold

Advert for J. W Benson jewellery 1904
Selection of Edwardian jewellery available from J. W Benson, Bond Street, London, with monthly payments. Date: 1904

Loves first proposal
Beautiful irl seated on a lucky horshoe receiving a proposal of marriage.Date: circa 1910

Lucky Durham by Wilson Barrett
Promotional postcard for Lucky Durham by Wilson Barrett. First produced at the Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool, 9th June 1904 and Kings Theatre, Hammersmith, 28th August 1905

Lucky Girl by Douglas Furber, R P Weston and Bert Lee
Promotional postcard for Lucky Girl by Douglas Furber, R. P. Weston and Bert Lee, adapted from Mr Abdullah by Reginald Berkeley; music Philip Charig

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"Lucky: From Gangsters to Good Fortune, a Captivating Journey" Step into the world of luck and discover its diverse manifestations throughout history. Meet Charles "Lucky" Luciano, an infamous American gangster whose photograph captured by the New York City Police Department in 1936 still intrigues us today. His story is one of power, crime, and a life filled with risks. But luck has many faces. Richard Arthur, also known as Dicky Nine Lives, defied death time and again during his adventures. Edwyn Vincent's captivating image from 1858 reminds us that fortune can be found in unexpected places. Even advertisements have embraced the concept of luck. Frys Chocolate entices us with their sweet treats promising moments of blissful serendipity. Meanwhile, a postman from the 1930s carries hopes and dreams within his mailbag as he delivers messages that could change lives forever. Animals too are not immune to this universal fascination with good fortune. Bathing a dog becomes an act of love intertwined with superstition—a belief that washing away negative energy brings blessings upon our loyal companions. In the Poodle Parlour of the 1930s, pampered pooches receive special attention while their owners hope for prosperity through these four-legged charms. Travel across continents to Beijing's Ditan Park during Lunar New Year celebrations where Lucky Red Lanterns illuminate streets and homes alike—symbols believed to bring wealth and happiness for those who encounter them. War often tests our faith in luck; however, even amidst chaos on WW1's Somme Battlefield soldiers carried maps revealing both strategic plans and perhaps secret talismans hidden within folds—their own personal run of luck against adversity. Venturing further south to Peru reveals clay bulls adorning rooftops—a traditional sight believed to attract good fortune upon households fortunate enough to display them proudly under clear skies or stormy weather alike.