Political Prisoners Collection

The War in America: Fort Lafayette, the Federal Bastille for political prisoners, 1862. Creator: Smyth
The War in America: Fort Lafayette, the Federal Bastille for political prisoners, 1862. The traveller to America who enters the beautiful harbour of New York...will observe

The release of politicial prisoners from the Castellamare, Palermo, on June 19... 1860. Creator: Unknown
The release of politicial prisoners from the Castellamare, Palermo, on June 19 - from a sketch by our special artist, Frank Vizetelly, 1860

Political prisoners, 1890. Creator: Unknown
Political prisoners, 1890. This photograph is from a collection consisting of an album and individual photographs preserved in the Aleksandrovsk Municipal History and Literature Museum "A.P

Life of the Right Honourable W E Gladstone (engraving)
1045372 Life of the Right Honourable W E Gladstone (engraving) by Durand, Godefroy (1832-1896); Private Collection; (add.info.: Life of the Right Honourable W E Gladstone)

Liberation of Political Prisoners from the Fortress of Josephstadt (engraving)
3638115 Liberation of Political Prisoners from the Fortress of Josephstadt (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Release of Political Prisoners from the Castellamare, Palermo, on 19 June (engraving)
1612295 The Release of Political Prisoners from the Castellamare, Palermo, on 19 June (engraving) by Vizetelly, Frank (1830-83); Private Collection; (add.info)

Trial of Political Prisoners in the Grand Special Criminal Court, at Naples (engraving)
1097875 Trial of Political Prisoners in the Grand Special Criminal Court, at Naples (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Embarkation of Political Prisoners at Brest, for Cayenne (engraving)
1607273 Embarkation of Political Prisoners at Brest, for Cayenne (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Embarkation of Political Prisoners at Brest)

Russian political prisoners at a railway stations (engraving)
728529 Russian political prisoners at a railway stations (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Russian political prisoners at a railway stations)

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Throughout history, the plight has been a poignant reminder of the complexities and contradictions of power. From the execution of Bolsheviks by Kornilovites in Russia, to the liberation of prisoners from the Fortress of Josephstadt and the Castellamare in Italy, the story of political imprisonment is one of both oppression and hope. The engravings of W.E. Gladstone's life, the trials in Naples and the embarkation of prisoners at Brest, paint a grim picture of the past. Yet, hope shines through in the memorial plaque at Bergen-Belsen, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The engraving of "The War in America" serves as a reminder that political imprisonment is not limited to specific regions or eras, but is a global issue that continues to challenge our collective conscience.