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Oxford Science Archive Collection (#4)

"Exploring the Vast Oxford Science Archive: A Journey Through Time and Discoveries" Step into a world where history intertwines with scientific breakthroughs

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Nicholas Lemery, French chemist, 1870

Nicholas Lemery, French chemist, 1870. Lemery (1645-1715) was a pharmacist and lecturer in Paris. He wrote a textbook on chemistry and a treatise on the element antimony

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Pre-binomial classification of species, 1644

Pre-binomial classification of species, 1644. Here two different species of the genus camel are named in Hebrew, Latin and Dutch, although only one species, the Bactrian is depicted

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Finding the angular distance between two edges of a wood using a cross-staff, 1617-1619

Finding the angular distance between two edges of a wood using a cross-staff, 1617-1619. From Utriusque cosmi...historia by Robert Fludd. (Oppenheim, 1617-1619)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Henry Cavendish (1731-1810), philosopher and chemist, c1851

Henry Cavendish (1731-1810), philosopher and chemist, c1851
Henry Cavendish (1731-1810), English natural philosopher and chemist. Cavendish Physical Laboratory, Cambridge, is named after him. Lithograph, c1851

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Gustave Hamel, British aviation pioneer, 1913

Gustave Hamel, British aviation pioneer, 1913. Hamel (c1884-1914) disappeared over the English Channel on 23 May 1914 on a flight from France piloting a new aircraft

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz, c1900

Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz, c1900
Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz, German physicist and physiologist, c1900. The inventor of the opthalmoscope (1850)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: John Russell Hind, Hermann Goldschmidt and Robert Luther, astronomers, c1900

John Russell Hind, Hermann Goldschmidt and Robert Luther, astronomers, c1900. Medal commemorating the work of these three men on the discovery of planetoids (asteroids or minor planets)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Medal commemorating Pierre Janssen and Norman Lockyer, French and English astronomers, 1868

Medal commemorating Pierre Janssen and Norman Lockyer, French and English astronomers, 1868
Medal commemorating Pierre Janssen and Joseph Norman Lockyer, French and English astronomers, 1868. In 1868, working independently of each other on spectroscopic studies of solar prominences

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Pierre Janssen and Joseph Norman Lockyer, French and English astronomers, 1868

Pierre Janssen and Joseph Norman Lockyer, French and English astronomers, 1868. Pierre Jules Cesar Janssen (1824-1907), left, and Joseph Norman Lockyer (1836-1920)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Julius Ferdinand Hann, Austrian meteorologist, c1921

Julius Ferdinand Hann, Austrian meteorologist, c1921
Julius Ferdinand Hann, c1921. Portrait of Hann (1839-1921) from a commemorative medal issued by the Austrian Meteorological Society

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, 1862

Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, 1862. Founded in 1772, the observatory is named after the physician John Radcliffe (1652-1714)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Manuel John Johnson, English astronomer, 1862

Manuel John Johnson, English astronomer, 1862. Johnson (1805-1859) observed the total solar eclipse of 27 July 1832 while in charge of the St Helena observatory

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz, German physicist and physiologist, 1907

Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz, German physicist and physiologist, 1907. The inventor of the opthalmoscope (1850)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz, German motor industry pioneers, 1961

Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz, German motor industry pioneers, 1961. Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler (1834-1900), left, German engineer and inventor and Karl Friedrich Benz (1844-1929)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Yuri Gagarin, Soviet Russian cosmonaut, 1961

Yuri Gagarin, Soviet Russian cosmonaut, 1961. Czech postage stamp commemorating Gagarins (1934-1968) flight in Vostok, 12 April 1961, the first manned space flight

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Merino sheep, c1860

Merino sheep, c1860. Originating in Spain as long as 3000 years ago, the Merino was improved by the Moors in the Middle Ages

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Black Faced Ram, mid 19th century. Artist: William Home Lizars

Black Faced Ram, mid 19th century. Artist: William Home Lizars
Black Faced Ram, mid 19th century. The Black-faced or Heath sheep was a hardy breed with good wool and well flavoured meat

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Making silk hats, 1867

Making silk hats, 1867. The hatter is covering a hat frame with black silk. To his left on the bench is an iron for smoothing out the fabric

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Cobbler mending boots, 1867

Cobbler mending boots, 1867. A cobbler sitting on his bench with a tray of tools and materials at his side. On his lap is a boot he is mending. Illustration from a childrens book. (London, 1867)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Coal miner working a narrow seam, c1864

Coal miner working a narrow seam, c1864. The miner is crouching on the floor and, with a pickaxe, is holing out or scuffling out the coal

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Early 19th century coal miner working a narrow seam, c1868

Early 19th century coal miner working a narrow seam, c1868. The miner, stripped to the waist, is lying on his side and, with a pickaxe, is holing out or scuffling coal

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Ironer, 1822

Ironer, 1822. An Indian using an iron filled with hot charcoal to press clothes. (London, 1822)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Gout and the Spider, c1835

Gout and the Spider, c1835. Physician attending a clerical patient suffering from a case of gout. Illustration for Gout and the Spider from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine. (Paris, c1835)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Five Senses, late 16th century. Artist: Adriaen Collaert

The Five Senses, late 16th century. Artist: Adriaen Collaert
The Five Senses, late 16th century. Man entertained by the Five Senses: Sight, holding a mirror, accompanied by an eagle; Taste, with a basket of fruit; Smell

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Tamar giving birth to Pharez and Sarah, 16th century

Tamar giving birth to Pharez and Sarah, 16th century. Tamar had twins by her father-in-law Judah Pharez (Peres) whose descendants include King David and Jesus of Nazareth and Sarah (Zera)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Knife grinder, 1808. Artist: William Henry Pyne

Knife grinder, 1808. Artist: William Henry Pyne
Knife grinder, 1808. An itinerant knife grinder using a treadle to turn his grindstone mounted on a barrow. His dog lies patiently at front right

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Water carrier, 1808. Artist: William Henry Pyne

Water carrier, 1808. Artist: William Henry Pyne
Water carrier, 1808. Registered water carrier number 198 carrying wooden buckets of water which have been filled at the water source behind him where hackney cab drivers are watering their horses

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Rabbit seller, 1808. Artist: William Henry Pyne

Rabbit seller, 1808. Artist: William Henry Pyne
Rabbit seller, 1808. A woman in a town street hawking rabbits and ducks which she carries on a pole slung over her shoulder. From The Costume of Great Britain by William Henry Pyne. (London, 1808)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Rat Hunting, 1823

Rat Hunting, 1823. It was important to control rats in both town and country as they spread disease and contaminated and consumed grain and other food supplies

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Matlock Spa, Derbyshire, late 18th century

Matlock Spa, Derbyshire, late 18th century. In the late 18th century it became fashionable to take the waters and after the discovery of pure mineral springs

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Lincolnshire Duck Decoy, c1845

Lincolnshire Duck Decoy, c1845. Front and end views of the netted tunnel. Wild duck were decoyed into the mouth of the net covering a curving ditch or pipe

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Tailor, c1845

Tailor, c1845. In the centre the tailor is using a flat iron to press a jacket on an ironing board. At the bottom is a sheep, source of the wool from which the cloth for the jacket was woven

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Advertisement for Shaker Family Pills, 1891

Advertisement for Shaker Family Pills, 1891. Trade card advertising an American patent medicine claiming effectiveness in curing sick headache, constipation, sluggish liver

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Swan, Goose and Duck, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

The Swan, Goose and Duck, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Swan, Goose and Duck, c1850. The central image is of the three different birds. Surrounding vignettes show (clockwise from top left)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Pig, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

The Pig, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Pig, c1850. The central image shows a sow and piglets. Surrounding vignettes show (clockwise from top left): a swineherd with pigs in a forest to eat acorns

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Elephant, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

The Elephant, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Elephant, c1850. The central image shows the Indian elephant in front and African elephant behind. Surrounding vignettes show (clockwise from top left)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Crustacea and Reptiles, c1850. Artist: Robert Kent Thomas

Crustacea and Reptiles, c1850. Artist: Robert Kent Thomas
Crustacea and Reptiles, c1850. The central image shows a lobster, crab, turtle, scallops, whelks and prawns, cowrie shells, lobster and crab pots and shrimping nets

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Domestic Fowl, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

Domestic Fowl, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
Domestic Fowl, c1850. The central image shows a cockerel, hens and chicks. Surrounding vignettes show (clockwise from top left)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Bee, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

The Bee, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Bee, c1851. The central image shows bee skeps and plants on which bees forage, and Indian, American and South European bees

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Goat, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

The Goat, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Goat, c1850. The central image is of a goat and kid. Surrounding vignettes show (clockwise from top left): milking goats for milk and cheese; an Eastern goatherd

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Ass, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

The Ass, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Ass, c1850. The central image shows the ass or donkey (Equus asinus). Surrounding vignettes show animals (clockwise from top left)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Rein Deer, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

The Rein Deer, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Rein Deer, c1850. The Lapps (Samek or Samer), nomadic herdsmen of the Arctic from the Kola peninsula to northwest Sweden whose traditional way of life depended on their herds of semi-domesticated

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Camel, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

The Camel, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Camel, c1850. The central image shows the Arabian Camel or Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) with a single hump, and the Asian or Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus) with two humps

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Hare and the Rabbit, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

The Hare and the Rabbit, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Hare and the Rabbit, c1850. The central image shows wild and domesticted rabbits. Surrounding vignettes show (clockwise from top left)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: The Sheep, c1850. Artist: Day & Haghe

The Sheep, c1850. Artist: Day & Haghe
The Sheep, c1850. The central image is of sheep of the Black Faced breed. Surrounding vignettes show (clockwise from top left)

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Shorthorn Bull Ironclad, 1875

Shorthorn Bull Ironclad, 1875. Bred by Lord Polworth, Ironclad was champion male shorthorn at the Royal Agricultural Show at Windsor

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Fire in London, 1808. Artist: Thomas Rowlandson

Fire in London, 1808. Artist: Thomas Rowlandson
Fire in London, 1808. Albion Mills, on the south side of Blackfriars Bridge, London, burning, on 3 March 1791, after the mills were set alight by arsonists

Background imageOxford Science Archive Collection: Making beaver hats, 1841

Making beaver hats, 1841. Although called beaver hats, a certain amount beaver fur was only used in the most expensive examples. In most others, rabbit fur was used




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"Exploring the Vast Oxford Science Archive: A Journey Through Time and Discoveries" Step into a world where history intertwines with scientific breakthroughs, as we delve into the captivating Oxford Science Archive. From the early days of locomotives to groundbreaking astronomical observations, this collection showcases humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge. Witness the awe-inspiring sight of a train crossing Stockport viaduct on the London & North Western Railway in 1845, symbolizing mankind's determination to conquer distance and connect nations. Marvel at our understanding of celestial bodies through stunning images capturing Jupiter's four moons - Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto - observed in 1979. Travel back further in time to 1867 when The Engineer publication chronicled technological advancements that shaped society. Immerse yourself in an era when engineering marvels like the Great Eastern ship were constructed on the banks of Thames at Millwall in 1857. Meet James Watt, a Scottish engineer whose inventive genius revolutionized steam power during the Industrial Revolution. His portrait from 1833 serves as a reminder of human ingenuity that propelled us forward. Explore artistry intertwined with science as you encounter Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins' depiction of "The Whale" circa 1850 – a testament to both artistic skill and zoological exploration. Encounter JJ Thomson, British nuclear physicist extraordinaire captured in an iconic photograph from 1898 – his work paving the way for modern atomic theory. Reflect upon mankind's relationship with nature through poignant imagery depicting water scarcity amidst abundance titled "Water. Water. Everywhere; and not a Drop to Drink" from 1849. Witness progress etched into landscapes such as Tring cutting on London & Birmingham Railway (1837) or Kilsby Tunnel construction (1839), showcasing how infrastructure transformed societies. Acknowledge both triumphs and challenges faced by humanity throughout history as industrial pollution looms over Sheffield Yorkshire in the 1920s.