Messages Collection

Flags of Royal Navy
Some of the signal flags of Royal Navy including the Royal Standard, White Ensign, Union Jack

Carrier Pigeon poster
Poster warning people of the dangers of shooting carrier pigeons who may be carrying life or death messages. Carrier pigeons, we are told, are a vital part of RAF

Illustration, rolled paper scroll tied with gold ribbon

SOS message from Titanic
A wireless message received by the Russian steamer Birma from the Titanic about five minutes after Titanic struck the iceberg that sank her

Seaplane carrier pigeon, WW1
A carrier pigeon housed on board a seaplane for the delivery of messages during the First World War. This particular bird delivered a message (no)

Mary Qoss Messenger
A pigeon carries messages for Mary Queen of Scots, imprisoned at Tutbury, to Babington who is plotting to rescue her and set her back on the throne again

Sailors demonstrating flag semaphore system

First Metropolitan Police-Dogs
Front cover photograph showing two London policemen with the first Metropolitan police-dogs in 1938, thirty years after the first dogs were used by the North Eastern Railway Police to patrol Hull

The Annunciation, 1894 (oil on canvas)
3501978 The Annunciation, 1894 (oil on canvas) by Shields, Frederic James (1833-1911); 85x54 cm; Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

Messenger with a Letter, from the series "Elegant Five-needled Pine, c. 1797-98 (colour woodblock print;oban)
5860842 Messenger with a Letter, from the series " Elegant Five-needled Pine, c.1797-98 (colour woodblock print; oban) by Utamaro

Invisible ink
Coded invisible ink message demonstrated by German spy Kurt H de Rysbach, 1915 Date: 1915

Dogs Love Chocolate
Punch has been trained by his owner to carry messages and pick up litter. Here he tries to use the chocolate dispenser

The Carrier Pigeon (engraving)
3626167 The Carrier Pigeon (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Carrier Pigeon. Illustration for Chatterbox (1871)

Western Front, France, 1918
Telephone and pigeon men in a shell hole. Telephone lines are broken so messages have to be sent by carrier pigeons on the Western Front in France during World War I on 25th April 1918

Izvestia Distributed
Copies of the Moscow newspaper Izvestia (it means messages or reports) are distributed to soldiers of the Red Army. Fortunately, many of them can read

Showgirls Changing Room
No doubt the envy of all his friends, this page boy has the important task of delivering messages and cards backstage, where most are prohibited from entering - hope he knocked!

New Year's greetings (chromolitho)
8656921 New Year's greetings (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: New Year's greetings. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn.

A little line from your Valentine will turn it upside down (colour litho)
8656777 A little line from your Valentine will turn it upside down (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: If your face is doleful and inclined to frown)

Angels, c1920 (stained glass)
8714218 Angels, c1920 (stained glass) by Mayer, Franz (1848-1926); (add.info.: Stained Glass built 1920s. Glass by Franz Mayer Germany. Angels. Gesu Catholic Church)

Wheatstone's needle (pointer) telegraph, 1890
3479996 Wheatstone's needle (pointer) telegraph, 1890; (add.info.: Wheatstone's needle (pointer) telegraph; the sender; left and receiver, 1890.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Wheatstone's Signal electromagnetic telegraph, 1890
3479994 Wheatstone's Signal electromagnetic telegraph, 1890; (add.info.: Wheatstone's Signal ABC electromagnetic telegraph.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An electric Morse Register, manufactured by L. G. Tillotson & Co., New York in the late 1860s
6867173 An electric Morse Register, manufactured by L. G. Tillotson & Co., New York in the late 1860s. After an illustration in Modern Practice Of The Electric Telegraph

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus receiving the message of the senate (colour litho)
8644891 Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus receiving the message of the senate (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Love message from sea to sea (colour litho)
8635421 Love message from sea to sea (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Love message from sea to sea, greetings card)

Statue of Hermes, ancient Greece (engraving)
8634956 Statue of Hermes, ancient Greece (engraving) by German School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Statue of Hermes, ancient Greece. Illustration from Hellas)

Left Blooming Alone (colour litho)
8634834 Left Blooming Alone (colour litho) by Edwards, Mary Ellen (1838-1934); Private Collection; (add.info.: Left Blooming Alone)

Scene from Sleeping Beauty (chromolitho)
8677392 Scene from Sleeping Beauty (chromolitho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scene from Sleeping Beauty)

Sir Robert Carey's Ride (litho)
8672628 Sir Robert Carey's Ride (litho) by Browne, Gordon Frederick (1858-1932) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sir Robert Carey's Ride)

Gemeindeausrufer / Community Crier (colour litho)
8666317 Gemeindeausrufer / Community Crier (colour litho) by Christophe (Colomb, Georges) (1856-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gemeindeausrufer)

The missionary father Vicente de Valverde addressed King Inca Atahualpa in 1532, 19th century (lithograph)
NWI4846312 The missionary father Vicente de Valverde addressed King Inca Atahualpa in 1532, 19th century (lithograph); (add.info)

Cooke, Wheatstone needle telegraph used on the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway, 1845
3479950 Cooke, Wheatstone needle telegraph used on the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway, 1845; (add.info.: Cooke, Wheatstone needle telegraph used on the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway)

Sending an emergency signal on a railway telegraph, 1850
3479948 Sending an emergency signal on a railway telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Sending an emergency signal on a railway telegraph.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Replica of the apparatus with which Morse sent his first public telegraph message on 24th May 1844, 1850
3479947 Replica of the apparatus with which Morse sent his first public telegraph message on 24th May 1844, 1850; (add.info)

Ticker-tape machine at the stock exchange, 1881
3479639 Ticker-tape machine at the stock exchange, 1881; (add.info.: Ticker-tape machine at the stock exchange, 1881.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Receiver of automatic printing telegraph of the type used by financial concerns, 1896
3479637 Receiver of automatic printing telegraph of the type used by financial concerns, 1896; (add.info.: Receiver of automatic printing telegraph of the type used by financial concerns)

The bell of an office telegraph, 1874
3480051 The bell of an office telegraph, 1874; (add.info.: The bell of an office telegraph. No intercommunication was possible; but by means of a pre-arranged code; a number of messages could be sent)

The operating room at the General Post Office, 1874
3480011 The operating room at the General Post Office, 1874; (add.info.: The operating room at the General Post Office; St Martin's-Le-Grand; London)

The Australian Overland Telegraph, 1866
3480006 The Australian Overland Telegraph, 1866; (add.info.: The Australian Overland Telegraph: begun in 1870 and distance of 1700 miles (2745km)

Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850
3479983 Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph)

A messenger delivering a message to a prince or noble, 1828
3480390 A messenger delivering a message to a prince or noble, 1828; (add.info.: A messenger delivering a message to a prince or noble. India, early 19th Century)

A scene with the Post Office telegraph headquarters, 1850
3478429 A scene with the Post Office telegraph headquarters, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a scene with the Post Office telegraph headquarters in London)

Laying the Trans-Atlantic cable at Foilhommerum Bay, 1865
3478899 Laying the Trans-Atlantic cable at Foilhommerum Bay, 1865; (add.info.: Laying the Trans-Atlantic cable at Foilhommerum Bay, near Valentia, Ireland, 1865.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The Atlantic telegraph message being received from the Great Eastern in the instrument room in Valencia, 1870
3478892 The Atlantic telegraph message being received from the Great Eastern in the instrument room in Valencia, 1870; (add.info)

1st century AD statuette in Bronze depicting the Roman God Mercury
3329572 1st century AD statuette in Bronze depicting the Roman God Mercury; (add.info.: 1st century AD statuette in Bronze depicting the Roman God Mercury. Southern Italy)

Royal Post of the Court of Philip II, lithograph, 16th century
AIS5388194 Royal Post of the Court of Philip II, lithograph, 16th century; Museo Postal y Telegrafico, Madrid, Spain; (add.info.: Royal Post of the Court of Philip II)

Direct telegraph line between New-castle and London for the Newcastle Chronicle, 1874
3479999 Direct telegraph line between New-castle and London for the Newcastle Chronicle, 1874; (add.info.: Direct telegraph line between Newcastle and London for the Newcastle Chronicle)

Rear elevation of Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph, 1890
3479995 Rear elevation of Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph, 1890; (add.info.: Rear elevation of Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph; showing the current reverser)

Letter H: heraut; halberd; lobster; heron; swallows; hotel; clock; hure; owl; axe; hoteliere; grass
DUV4199532 Letter H: heraut; halberd; lobster; heron; swallows; hotel; clock; hure; owl; axe; hoteliere; grass, c.1890 (lithograph); 10.7x7.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

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"Unveiling the Secrets of Communication: From Flags to Pigeons, they have Transcended Time" A journey through history begins with the fluttering flags of the Royal Navy, each color and pattern conveying a message that shaped maritime communication. An illustration captures the essence of anticipation as a rolled paper scroll tied with a golden ribbon holds within it untold stories and heartfelt messages. The haunting echoes of an SOS message from Titanic remind us of the power and urgency behind desperate pleas for help in times of distress. In the midst of World War I, a brave seaplane carrier pigeon soars across enemy lines, carrying vital messages that could mean life or death for soldiers on both sides. A striking poster showcases the valorous efforts of carrier pigeons during wartime, highlighting their role as messengers who bridged gaps between divided forces. Mary Qoss Messenger's name resonates through time as she fearlessly delivered messages amidst chaos and danger during pivotal moments in history. Sailors demonstrate their agility and precision using flag semaphore system, spelling out words without uttering a single sound - an art form lost in modern times but forever etched in our collective memory. As man's best friend takes on new roles throughout history, we witness how even dogs became messengers when they joined forces with Metropolitan Police to maintain order and protect communities. Hidden within plain sight lies invisible ink - an ingenious method used by spies to convey covert messages that only reveal themselves under specific conditions; secrets shared silently yet effectively. Amidst tales about dogs' love for chocolate comes cautionary advice: while sweet treats may bring joy to our furry companions, some indulgences can be harmful - another message we must heed attentively. The Apocalypse Tapestry unravels before our eyes like ancient scrolls unfurling prophecies; its intricate details and vivid colors whisper messages of hope, despair, and the resilience of humanity.