Upper Class Collection (#50)

BALLROOM, 1760. A ballroom in the year 1760. Wood engraving, English, 1848, after a painting by Abraham Solomon

NY YACHT CLUB BANQUET, 1891. The anniversary dinner of the New York Yacht Club: line engraving, 1891, after Thur de Thulstrap

ROLLER SKATING, 1885. A Belle On Rollers. Roller skating on an indoor rink in New York City. Wood engraving, 1885, after Thure de Thulstrup

ROME: LADYs TOILET. Roman lady at her toilet. Wood engraving after the Elkington Plaque, late 19th century

READING LETTERS, 1890. American tourists reading newspapers and letters from home in the reading room of a European bank. Line engraving, American, 1890, after a drawing by Charles Stanley Reinhart

WILLIAM RUSSELL GRACE (1832-1904). American merchant and shipowner. Wood engraving, 1880

CHRISTMAS, 186O. Christmas Day. Wood engraving, American, 1860

VAN DER HEYDEN: KITCHEN. The Rich Kitchen. Engraving, 1563, by Jan van der Heyden after Peter Bruegel the Elder

AUCTION, 1875. A picture auction in New York. Line engraving, 1875

COLLIS POTTER HUNTINGTON (1821-1900). American railroad builder. Engraving after a photograph, 1900

AUCTION: NEW YORK, 1870. An auction of home furnishings in New York City. Line engraving, 1870

AUCTION: LONDON, 1872. A picture sale in London, England. Line engraving, English, 1872

EDWARD III (1312-1377). King of England, 1327-1377. Edward accepting the surrender of Calais, France, in August 1347. Line engraving, English, 1776

DICKENS: OUR MUTUAL FRIEND. Podsnappery. A party at the home of Mr Podsnap. Wood engraving from a 19th century American edition of Charles Dickens Our Mutual Friend, first published in 1864

LONDON: POST OFFICE, 1832. The General Post Office, London, England. Wood engraving, 1832

UNION LEAGUE CLUB, 1868. The ladies reception at the new Union League Club, on the corner of Madison Avenue and East 26th Street, New York City, in 1868. Contemporary wood engraving

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE. Christmas carnival in the New York Stock Exchange. Line engraving, 1885

WOMENs FASHION, 1850. Parisian fashion. Steel engraving from an American fashion magazine, 1850

FASHIONABLE PARISIANS, 1799. Merveilleuses et Incroyables. Fashionable Parisians at Palais Royal. Engraving, 1799

STEAMSHIP PACIFIC. The grand salon of the American steamship Pacific built for transatlantic service. Wood engraving, American, 1856

WOMENs FASHION, 1865. Paris fashions for April, 1865. Wood engraving, American, 1865

SNUFF, 18th CENTURY. Line engraving, French, 18th century

CHRISTMAS IN 1860. Wood engraving, English 1864

COLONIAL COFFEE HOUSE. A coffee house in colonial America, 18th century. Line engraving, late 19th century

POMPEII: EXCAVATION, 1879. Commemoration of the eighteenth centenary of destruction of Pompeii, Italy. Excavations in the ninth region. Wood engraving from a contemporary English newspaper

CHRISTMAS DINNER, 1846. A Christmas family fete at Brighton. Wood engraving, English, 1846

WOMENs FASHION, 1861. Latest Equestrian Fashions. Line engraving, 1861

PULLMAN CAR, 1877. Dining at twenty miles an hour west of Chicago, Illinois, in a Pullman dining car. Wood engraving from an American newspaper, 1877

HORSE RACING, 1866. The betting-ring at Ascot. Wood engraving, English, 1866

GERMANY: MEDIEVAL BALL. A ball in a medieval German court. Copper engraving, German, 16th century

DORÉ: LONDON, 1872. The Stalls, Covent Garden Opera. Wood engraving after Gustave Dore from London: A Pilgrimage, 1872

SINGAPORE: BALL, 1854. Ball at Singapore given by the Governor, Colonel W. J
SINGAPORE: BALL, 1854. Ball at Singapore given by the Governor, Colonel W.J. Butterworth, on 6 February 1854 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Singapore as a British settlement

RAILROAD: DINER, c1870. Interior of a dining car on the Union Pacific Railroad, Wood engraving, c1870

LIVERPOOL: CONCERT HALL. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, England. Wood engraving, English, 1889

RAILROAD: INTERIOR, 1876. Observance of Sunday services on a train of the Central Pacific Railroad. Wood engraving, 1876

DANCE: LÄNDLER, 1825. Dancing the ländler. Detail of a German engraving, c1825

THE MOON. The three-legged Moon Toad. After an antique Chinese engraving

BOOK STALL, 19th CENTURY. A Treasure at the Book-Stall. Wood engraving, 19th century

CHRISTMAS PARTY, 1853. Christmas party at the Goose Club. Wood engraving, English, 1853

CHRISTMAS FAMILY PARTY. Wood engraving, English, 1847

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, 1890. Christmas shopping on Grand Street. Wood engraving, 1890

ONE-MAN BAND, 1867. New York Street Musicians - An Individual Band. Line engraving, American, 1867

CROQUET, 19th CENTURY. Line engraving, 19th century

DORE: RUSSIAN CARTOON, 1854. An 1854 satirical engraving by Gustave Dor

JAMES CLAIR FLOOD (1826-1889). American banker, capitalist and silver king. Wood engraving, 19th century

NY STOCK EXCHANGE, 1878. The interior of a New York City stock exchange for speculation on small margins: wood engraving, 1878

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE. Line engraving, 1885

REGATTA AT SARATOGA, 1879. The Regatta at Saratoga, New York, in 1879: wood engraving from a contemporary newspaper

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"Capturing the Essence of Upper Class: A Glimpse into the World of Elegance and Prestige" Step back in time to 1886, as Georges Seurat's masterpiece "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" transports us to a world where the upper class leisurely strolls along the riverbank, clad in their finest attire. Fast forward to 1914, when J. C. Leyendecker's Arrow shirt collar ad showcases impeccable style and sophistication. The well-dressed gentleman exudes confidence, epitomizing the refined taste of the upper echelons. Even royalty is not exempt from our exploration of this elite society. Young Queen Victoria graces our narrative with her regal presence, embodying grace and poise that befit her royal status. London fog envelops Portland Place in Alvin Langdon Coburn's photograph from c1905. Amidst this atmospheric backdrop, a hansom cab carries members of high society through Marylebone - an area synonymous with fashion and luxury. The visionary industrialist John Deere takes center stage next; his late 19th-century portrait captures a man who rose above social barriers through hard work and innovation – a testament to how one can ascend into upper-class circles. Returning to Leyendecker's artistry in 1916, another Arrow shirt collar ad presents us with an image that exudes elegance. The dapper gentleman donning an impeccably tailored suit represents all that is coveted by those aspiring for membership within this exclusive realm. In contrast to these refined scenes, we stumble upon unexpected company at lunchtime – big fat cockroaches. Even they seem drawn towards opulence as they venture out for their own extravagant meal amidst luxurious surroundings. Golf enthusiasts find themselves immersed in high-society pursuits on Life magazine's golf number cover from 1921 titled "The Wearing of Green.