Puttee Collection

Cartoon commenting on the grotesque effect of a pitch helmet, sun goggles and puttees, 19th century
5308698 Cartoon commenting on the grotesque effect of a pitch helmet, sun goggles and puttees, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the grotesque effect of a pitch helmet)

A.S. Menin, portrait photograph, 1918 Nov. 18. Creator: Arnold Genthe
A.S. Menin, portrait photograph, 1918 Nov. 18

Mr. Sylvester Labrot, portrait photograph, 1918 Nov. 9. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Mr. Sylvester Labrot, portrait photograph, 1918 Nov. 9

Mr. G.G. Hartley, portrait photograph, 1918 Apr. 15. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Mr. G.G. Hartley, portrait photograph, 1918 Apr. 15

Mr. N.L. Fulton, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 8. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Mr. N.L. Fulton, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 8

Les Premiers Contingents Americains en France; A bord d'un transport: soldats se preparent... 1917 Creator: Unknown
Les Premiers Contingents Americains en France; A bord d'un transport: soldats se preparent a debarquer, 1917. First World War

Sur le Front Italien; Visitant le front italien, le 4 fevrier 1917, le general Nivelle decore... 1 Creator: Unknown
Sur le Front Italien; Visitant le front italien, le 4 fevrier 1917, le general Nivelle decore de la Croix de Guerre francaise le duc d'Aoste, commandant d'une armee, 1917

Mr. Frederick Schling, portrait photograph, 1918 May 13. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Mr. Frederick Schling, portrait photograph, 1918 May 13

D.L. Neuman, portrait photograph, 1918 Nov. 10. Creator: Arnold Genthe
D.L. Neuman, portrait photograph, 1918 Nov. 10

Captain Halsted Dorey, 4th Infantry, U.S.A. Plattsburg, 1916. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Captain Halstead Dorey, 4th Infantry, U.S.Army, Plattsburg, 1916

R.T. Elliott Jr. Lincoln Shah Jr. American Guard Drilling, Front Right, 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. R.T. Elliott Jr
R.T. Elliott Jr. Lincoln Shah Jr. American Guard Drilling, Front Right, 1917

R.T. Elliott Jr. American Guard, Drilling, 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. R.T. Elliott Jr
R.T. Elliott Jr. American Guard, Drilling, 1917

Fort McHenry, C.H. Williams, 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Fort McHenry, C.H. Williams, 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Fort McHenry, C.H. Williams, 1917

Captain George Davis, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 7. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Captain George Davis, portrait photograph, 1918 Sept. 7

Michael Jacobs, 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Michael Jacobs, 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Michael Jacobs, 1917

Leonard D.Mahon with Steel Helmet He Invented That Could Be Used As Shovel, 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Leonard D.Mahon with Steel Helmet He Invented That Could Be Used As Shovel, 1917

National Guard of D.C. - Capt. Louis Wilson, 1916. Creator: Harris & Ewing. National Guard of D.C. - Capt
National Guard of D.C. - Capt. Louis Wilson, 1916. Sitting at writing desk designed to fold up inside a trunk

Mr. Donald Spencer, portrait photograph, 1918 Aug. 6. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Mr. Donald Spencer, portrait photograph, 1918 Aug. 6

Captain S.M. Spalding, portrait photograph, 1919 Jan. 27 or 28. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Captain S.M. Spalding, portrait photograph, 1919 Jan. 27 or 28

Signaling, between 1910 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Signaling, between 1910 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Signaling, between 1910 and 1917. USA. Man in military uniform teaching women (scout leaders?) semaphore

Alvey Augustus Adee, Assistant Secretary of State, 1914. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Alvey Augustus Adee, Assistant Secretary of State, 1914. US politician, Washington, DC

Field Artillery, between 1910 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Field Artillery, between 1910 and 1917
Field Artillery, between 1910 and 1917. US army personnel

Field Artillery, between 1910 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Field Artillery, between 1910 and 1917
Field Artillery, between 1910 and 1917. US army personnel

Engineer Corps, between 1910 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Engineer Corps, between 1910 and 1917
Engineer Corps, between 1910 and 1917. US army personnel

Fort interior, between 1913 and 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Fort interior, between 1913 and 1917
Fort interior, between 1913 and 1917. US soldiers with heavy artillery

Dora Rodrigues, recruiter for service branches, possibly in front of the Cosmos Theater, Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington in May 1917

Dora Rodrigues, recruiter for service branches, possibly in front of the Cosmos Theater, Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington in May 1917

Dora Rodrigues, recruiter for service branches, possibly in front of the Cosmos Theater, Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington in May 1917

Men in uniform at Sherman Monument, Washington, D.C. between 1916 and 1918. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Men in uniform at Sherman Monument, Washington, D.C. between 1916 and 1918. Erected by the Society of the Army of the Tennessee with the Aid of the Congress of the United States, 1903'

Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912
Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912

U.S. Army Inspection, 1910. Creator: Harris & Ewing. U.S. Army Inspection, 1910. Creator: Harris & Ewing
U.S. Army Inspection, 1910. [Soldier with gun, knapsack and water bottle]

U.S. Army Inspection, 1910. Creator: Harris & Ewing. U.S. Army Inspection, 1910. Creator: Harris & Ewing
U.S. Army Inspection, 1910. [Bugler with knapsack and water bottle]

Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912
Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912

Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912
Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912

Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912
Boy Scouts Training Demonstration, 1912. [Improvised stretcher made from two poles and clothing]

British Army uniforms, 1933. Creator: Unknown
British Army uniforms, 1933. " Tommy s" New Uniform [left]: The tight " soldierly" collar is replaced by an open-necked shirt

French army uniforms, World War One, 1914. Uniforms of the French infantry at the start of the war

Theatre for the Armies of the Republic, French soldier kissing the hand of an actress, 1917 (colour litho)
661491 Theatre for the Armies of the Republic, French soldier kissing the hand of an actress, 1917 (colour litho) by Arnoux

The Song of the Poilus, Collection of songs and poems written and sung by Lucien Boyer in the armies of the Republic
661492 The Song of the Poilus, Collection of songs and poems written and sung by Lucien Boyer in the armies of the Republic, published by Francis Salabert, Paris (colour litho) by Arnoux

Theatre for the Armies, front cover illustration from La Baionnette, No 82, 25th January 1917 (colour litho)
661490 Theatre for the Armies, front cover illustration from La Baionnette, No 82, 25th January 1917 (colour litho) by Arnoux, Guy (1886-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: le theatre aux Armees)

The Soldier Ploughman, 1917 (colour litho)
698827 The Soldier Ploughman, 1917 (colour litho) by Arnoux, Guy (1886-1951); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; (add.info.: soldat laboureur;); © Archives Charmet

Photographic postcard of soliders in World War One at Verdun, July 2018. Creator: Unknown
A photographic postcard of Oscar Calmeise (far right) and five other unidentified soldiers during World War One. The group is posed sitting atop a pile of stones in Verdun, France

The Poilus Achievements, pushing the German beyond the Rhine, cover of a boardgame
698826 The Poilus Achievements, pushing the German beyond the Rhine, cover of a boardgame, c.1914-15 (colour litho) by French School

Soldiers marching in shorts in Wales, September 1939
British soldiers marching in Wales just after the outbreak of the Second World War. The Sphere comments on their bare knees and puttees but assures the reader of their spirit and ability

Colouring book for children, The Relief of Poilus, 1917 (colour litho)
698825 Colouring book for children, The Relief of Poilus, 1917 (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: album a colorier)

Trying to sell British soldiers swagger sticks
Very good, very nice sticks -- two Egyptian street traders try to sell British soldiers sticks or riding crops, while an elderly Jewish trader holds up a flag of the Allies

The War in the Soudan, making Clothing at Pimlico for the Troops going to Souakim (engraving)
1590982 The War in the Soudan, making Clothing at Pimlico for the Troops going to Souakim (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The War in the Soudan)

French troops shaking hands and giving floral bouquets to the Indian soldiers as they make their way to their forward camp. Frances admiration for the Indian troops is absolutely boundless

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"Puttee: A Timeless Symbol of Courage and Camaraderie" Step back in time to the early 20th century with a trade catalogue of cycle accessories from 1911, where you'll find a mention of "puttees. " These sturdy leg wrappings were not just practical but also fashionable, as evidenced by an advert for Foxs Puttees in 1914. During World War I, puttees became an integral part of soldiers' uniforms. In a vivid colour lithograph titled "Theatre for the Armies of the Republic, " we witness a poignant moment between a French soldier and an actress. The soldier kisses her hand while wearing his puttees—a symbol of resilience amidst chaos. Lucien Boyer's collection of songs and poems called "The Song of the Poilus" captures the spirit and emotions experienced by soldiers on the frontlines during this tumultuous period. Published in Paris, these heartfelt compositions are accompanied by striking colour lithographs that depict soldiers proudly donning their puttees. In another illustration from La Baionnette magazine, we glimpse into a theatre performance designed exclusively for soldiers—an escape from war's harsh realities. Meanwhile, "The Soldier Ploughman, " depicted in vibrant colours, showcases how even amidst conflict, life goes on—puttees serving as reminders that duty calls beyond battlefields. Photographic postcards offer glimpses into history; one such card shows soldiers at Verdun in July 2018. Their worn-out puttees tell tales untold—their journeys etched onto fabric wrapped around weary legs. Board games like "The Poilus Achievements" celebrate victories against Germany—depicting troops pushing beyond Rhine boundaries while sporting their trusty puttees. As time progressed and conflicts evolved, British soldiers marching in shorts during September 1939 still wore their iconic leg wrappings—a testament to tradition enduring through changing times.