Working Collection (#11)

Woollen rags in grinding machine called Devil, 1880 (engraving)
863956 Woollen rags in grinding machine called Devil, 1880 (engraving); (add.info.: Placing sorted woollen rags in a grinding machine called a Devil)

IMMIGRATION USA We look for a million-man: very good salary, c.1885 (woodcut)
2967620 IMMIGRATION USA We look for a million-man: very good salary, c.1885 (woodcut); (add.info.: IMMIGRATION USA We look for a million-man)

Isaac Merritt Singer (1811-1875) American inventor and manufacturer. Cover of booklet on the Singer sewing machine
530595 Isaac Merritt Singer (1811-1875) American inventor and manufacturer. Cover of booklet on the Singer sewing machine published New York c.1880

A family of alchemists at work
6116960 A family of alchemists at work, ; (add.info.: A family of alchemists at work. A 17th century illustration after a work by Pieter Bruegel.); Photo © Ken Welsh. All rights reserved 2024

Irish Water Spaniel "Captain."
5856419 Irish Water Spaniel "Captain."; (add.info.: Irish Water Spaniel "Captain." Original painting by R. S. Moseley (fl)

Bedlington Terrier "Geordie" and Dandie Dinmont Terrier "Doctor"
5856407 Bedlington Terrier "Geordie" and Dandie Dinmont Terrier "Doctor"; (add.info.: Bedlington Terrier "Geordie")

Irish Setter "Grouse II"
5856405 Irish Setter "Grouse II"; (add.info.: Irish Setter "Grouse II." Fine chromolithograph from Cassell's "Illustrated Book of the Dog" 1881)

Fox Terriers: "Buffet, " "Bristles" and "Bloom"
5856397 Fox Terriers: "Buffet, " "Bristles" and "Bloom"; (add.info.: Fox Terriers: "Buffet)

An exhausted young shop worker
5616471 An exhausted young shop worker; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an exhausted young shop girl who has collapsed after an extremely long week at work. Dated 19th Century)

Illustration depicting home-workers working at home for pittance, 1843 (engraving)
5616353 Illustration depicting home-workers working at home for pittance, 1843 (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG

An engraving depicting a miner working at the coal face using a pick, 19th century
5310990 An engraving depicting a miner working at the coal face using a pick, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1877); Universal History Archive/UIG

Vignette depicting military engineers at work
3359530 Vignette depicting military engineers at work; (add.info.: Vignette depicting military engineers at work. The man on the left is using compasses/dividers to measure a plan of fortifications)

A 19th century Rolling room, from The Strand Magazine, Vol I January to June, 1891
3432528 A 19th century Rolling room, from The Strand Magazine, Vol I January to June, 1891; Private Collection; (add.info.: A 19th century Rolling room)

William Caxton (circa 1422 - 1491)
2603866 William Caxton (circa 1422 - 1491); (add.info.: William Caxton (c1422 - 1491) the first man to print and published books in England (1476). Cadxon reading proofs fresh off the press

Military engineers at work, 1850
3330712 Military engineers at work, 1850; (add.info.: Vignette depicting military engineers at work. The man on the left is using compasses/dividers to measure a plan of fortifications)

The wireless transmission room at Croydon Aerodrome, London, England which was re-opened in 1928
3058465 The wireless transmission room at Croydon Aerodrome, London, England which was re-opened in 1928. From The Story of 25 Eventful Years in Pictures published 1935 by Unknown photographer

Women take over on the home front in 1918. From The Story of 25 Eventful Years in Pictures published 1935
3058451 Women take over on the home front in 1918. From The Story of 25 Eventful Years in Pictures published 1935; Photo © Hilary Morgan

Mechanical blacksmiths (engraving)
2604084 Mechanical blacksmiths (engraving); (add.info.: Hero of Alexandria's (lst century AD) mechanical blacksmiths. Woodcut from "Gli Artificiose e curiosi moti spiritale de Herone"

Monday Morning, 1850
3478122 Monday Morning, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration titled Monday Morning depicting father going to work with food and other goods tied in a scarf, while three older children leave for school)

Clerk at his desk in an office in Victorian London, 1884
3478924 Clerk at his desk in an office in Victorian London, 1884; (add.info.: Clerk at his desk in an office in Victorian London, 1884.); Universal History Archive/UIG

British troops laying down telegraph cable during the Crimean War, 1854
3479666 British troops laying down telegraph cable during the Crimean War, 1854; (add.info.: British troops laying down telegraph cable during the Crimean War, 1854.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The telegraph room at Scotland Yard, 1883
3480044 The telegraph room at Scotland Yard, 1883; (add.info.: The telegraph room at Scotland Yard, 1883.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The telegraph room, 1859
3480013 The telegraph room, 1859; (add.info.: The telegraph room; Electric and International Telegraph Company; Bell Alley; London. 1859.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Instrument gallery; Central Telegraph Office, 1888
3480012 Instrument gallery; Central Telegraph Office, 1888; (add.info.: Instrument gallery; Central Telegraph Office; St Martin's-Le-Grand; London.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The Post Office telegraph headquarters, 1871
3480009 The Post Office telegraph headquarters, 1871; (add.info.: The Post Office telegraph headquarters; Telegraph Street; London: The instruments for carrying messages)

Post Office telegraph headquarters, 1871
3480003 Post Office telegraph headquarters, 1871; (add.info.: Post Office telegraph headquarters; Telegraph Street; London: the batteries for operating the 395 instruments)

A female labourer at a tin mine
5310067 A female labourer at a tin mine; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a female labourer at a tin mine in the St Just area of Cornwall)

Straw platters from Buckingham
5310048 Straw platters from Buckingham; (add.info.: Engraving depicting straw platters from Buckingham. Dated 19th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Ms 5064 fol.35r Threshing, from Livre des Prouffitz Champestres by Pietro de Crescenzi (1230-1320/21) (vellum)
XIR206473 Ms 5064 fol.35r Threshing, from Livre des Prouffitz Champestres by Pietro de Crescenzi (1230-1320/21) (vellum) by French School, (15th century); Bibliotheque de L'Arsenal, Paris, France

Paper making, China: forming and drying sheets from pulp. Engraving c1810
866079 Paper making, China: forming and drying sheets from pulp. Engraving c1810.; Universal History Archive/UIG

Purification of silver in muffle furnace
863683 Purification of silver in muffle furnace; (add.info.: Purification of silver in a muffle furnace. From 1683 English edition of Lazarus Ercker "Beschreibung allerfurnemisten mineralischen)

Pounding rags to be made into paper. Engraving c1870
866060 Pounding rags to be made into paper. Engraving c1870.; Universal History Archive/UIG

Cutler;s workshop. From Diderot 'Encyclopedie' c1751
865640 Cutler;s workshop. From Diderot 'Encyclopedie' c1751.; Universal History Archive/UIG

Bell foundry: Preparing mould for castingbell in the bell pit. From Diderot 'Encyclopedie' c1751
865638 Bell foundry: Preparing mould for castingbell in the bell pit. From Diderot 'Encyclopedie' c1751.; Universal History Archive/UIG

Putting tyre on a wheel. From Diderot 'Encyclopedie' c1751
865637 Putting tyre on a wheel. From Diderot 'Encyclopedie' c1751.; Universal History Archive/UIG

Hackling Flax by hand, 1880 (engraving)
864020 Hackling Flax by hand, 1880 (engraving); (add.info.: Hackling Flax by hand. The stalks were broken apart by beating down on a metal comb)

Hurlet alum mine near Glasgow, United Kingdom
863930 Hurlet alum mine near Glasgow, United Kingdom; (add.info.: Hurlet alum mine near Glasgow, Scotland, showing miners extracting ore. Light is provided by candles fixed to their helmets)

Underwater working in diving suit. 19th century (engraving)
672982 Underwater working in diving suit. 19th century (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG

Chemical laboratory. 19th century (engraving)
672886 Chemical laboratory. 19th century (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG

19th century tallow chandler
673319 19th century tallow chandler; (add.info.: a nineteenth century Tallow Chandler); Universal History Archive/UIG

19th century trunk maker
673316 19th century trunk maker; (add.info.: Trunk Maker in the mid nineteenth century); Universal History Archive/UIG

19th century hospital for letters
673410 19th century hospital for letters; (add.info.: a nineteenth century Hospital for letters); Universal History Archive/UIG

19th century French postman
673368 19th century French postman; (add.info.: a nineteenth century French posman); Universal History Archive/UIG

19th century Hindu courier
673365 19th century Hindu courier; (add.info.: a nineteenth century Hindu courier); Universal History Archive/UIG

19th century stilted Landes postman
673363 19th century stilted Landes postman; (add.info.: a nineteenth century Landes postman); Universal History Archive/UIG

Parcel post at St Martin's le Grand in London
673493 Parcel post at St Martin's le Grand in London; (add.info.: Parcel post at St Martin's le Grand, 19th Century); Universal History Archive/UIG

19th century waterman
673349 19th century waterman; (add.info.: a nineteenth century Waterman); Universal History Archive/UIG

19th century cabinet maker
673347 19th century cabinet maker; (add.info.: a nineteenth century Cabinet Maker); Universal History Archive/UIG

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From shoeing horses to harvesting crops, it has evolved through the ages. In 1844, artist Edwin Henry Landseer captured the essence of labor in his masterpiece. Fast forward to 1938, where the Chevrolet El Camino SS 454 became a symbol of hard work and power on wheels. Picture No. 11772077 showcases the timeless beauty of the Range Rover Mk. 1 Classic, a vehicle that effortlessly combines luxury and utility. But it's not just about machines; humans too have played their part in shaping our world. The Land Rover Defender TD5 stands as a testament to human ingenuity and resilience in challenging terrains like Polkanuggo Quarry in Cornwall (1903-1904). John Deere combine harvesters revolutionized agriculture by efficiently gathering barley crops, filling trailers pulled by tractors with golden grains. The Land Rover Freelander 2 represents modern-day versatility - a reliable companion for both work and adventure alike. Traveling across continents, we stumble upon Sheela-na-Gig on the church wall of Killinaboy in County Clare, Ireland (Picture No. 10889724). This mysterious sculpture reminds us that even ancient civilizations recognized the importance of fertility and productivity. Lastly, let's not forget about air travel. The Galley aboard Zeppelin LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin (1933) demonstrates how aviation has become an integral part of global trade and transportation systems. In all its forms - whether it be manual labor or technological advancements - working is what propels us forward as individuals and societies alike.