Burglary Collection

Princess Diana and Prince Charles visiting the Met Police
Princess Diana and Prince Charles on a visit to the Metropolitan Polices burglary squad. Date: circa 1980s

The Life of Captain Charlie Vane/Mary Read, A Female Pirate, 19th century (print)
7339230 The Life of Captain Charlie Vane/Mary Read, A Female Pirate, 19th century (print) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 46x43.4 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

The pirates of Cuba, 19th century (print)
7339234 The pirates of Cuba, 19th century (print) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 24.4x23.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

A pirate prepares for ambush, mid 19th century (coloured engraving)
7339198 A pirate prepares for ambush, mid 19th century (coloured engraving) by Debelle, Alexandre (1805-97) (after); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: A)

Buried Treasure, early 20th century (book illustration)
7339186 Buried Treasure, early 20th century (book illustration) by Pyle, Howard (1853-1911); 57x51.7 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

I feel quite safe (colour litho)
8656660 I feel quite safe (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "I feel quite safe." Man stealing a safe)

A robber being visited by death
3478598 A robber being visited by death; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a robber being visited by 'death'. Dated 16th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Wreckers luring a ship onto rocks, 1850
3478532 Wreckers luring a ship onto rocks, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting wreckers luring a ship onto rocks by means of the lamp on the mounted man's back)

A burglar activating a basic home security locking system, 1850
3330947 A burglar activating a basic home security locking system, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a burglar activating a basic home security locking system)

A policeman stopping a burglary
5616277 A policeman stopping a burglary; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a policeman stopping a burglary by pointing his revolver at his suspect. Dated 19th Century)

Wreckers luring a ship onto rocks, 1850
3478531 Wreckers luring a ship onto rocks, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting wreckers luring a ship onto rocks. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A young Butch Cassidy, 1850 (b/w photo)
3507240 A young Butch Cassidy, 1850 (b/w photo); (add.info.: Photographic portrait of Butch Cassidy (1866-1908) an American train robber, bank robber, and leader of the Wild Bunch gang

James Dunlap , 1880
3507322 James Dunlap , 1880; (add.info.: James Dunlap. The american bank robber, 1880.); Universal History Archive.

Female shop-lifter caught in the act. 18th century. (print)
7419919 Female shop-lifter caught in the act. 18th century. (print); (add.info.: A female shop-lifter is caught in the act. She had concealed lengths of lace beneath her clothes)

Robbery of the diligence (engraving)
8644014 Robbery of the diligence (engraving) by Australian School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Robbery of the diligence)

Caught! (colour litho)
8645889 Caught! (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Caught! Illustration for The Children's Treasure (Simpkin, Marshall)

Engraving depicting a burglar being interrupted by the homeowner
5308609 Engraving depicting a burglar being interrupted by the homeowner; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a burglar being interrupted by the homeowner)

"Your money or your life", 1827 (litho)
7422877 "Your money or your life", 1827 (litho); (add.info.: Transport. "Your money or your life." Armed robbery of a stagecoach of the Messageries Royales in France)

James Dunlap, 1880
3507321 James Dunlap, 1880; (add.info.: James Dunlap. The american bank robber, 1880.); Universal History Archive.

Thursday for losses (chromolitho)
8677359 Thursday for losses (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thursday for losses)

I trust you won't think me abrupt (colour litho)
8655827 I trust you won't think me abrupt (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: I trust you won't think me abrupt)

Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving)
8638772 Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving) by Bennett, Charles Henry (1828-67) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Some beastly thief has sneaked my clothes (colour litho)
8656696 Some beastly thief has sneaked my clothes (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Some beastly thief has sneaked my clothes)

Comedy postcard of the Mona Lisa after the artwork's theft in 1911 (postcard)
LSE4104075 Comedy postcard of the Mona Lisa after the artwork's theft in 1911 (postcard); Private Collection; (add.info.: La Joconde)

A burglar escaping down a ladder, 1850
3330949 A burglar escaping down a ladder, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a burglar escaping down a ladder after breaking into a home. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Muscovite robbers carrying a canoe overland on their way to commit a crime
3330659 Muscovite robbers carrying a canoe overland on their way to commit a crime; (add.info.: Engraving of Muscovite robbers carrying a canoe overland on their way to commit a crime)

Economy. Fine Art and General Insurance. Poster by Emile Berchmans, Belgium, c.1890 (poster)
3434529 Economy. Fine Art and General Insurance. Poster by Emile Berchmans, Belgium, c.1890 (poster); (add.info.: Economie. Coll. Part. Economy. Fine Art and General Insurance)

"We have found the Mona Lisa in Florence", front page of 'Excelsior', 13th December 1913 (litho)
LSE3714166 "We have found the Mona Lisa in Florence", front page of 'Excelsior', 13th December 1913 (litho); Private Collection; (add.info)

Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving)
8638753 Page from Proverbs with Pictures by Charles H Bennett, 1859 (engraving) by Bennett, Charles Henry (1828-67) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

A spirited shop girl resents the customary search of her satchel by her employer (engraving)
8643244 A spirited shop girl resents the customary search of her satchel by her employer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Everybody does it, 1910 (lithograph)
1579916 Everybody does it, 1910 (lithograph); (add.info.: Photomechanical print titled 'Everybody does it' depicting a large circle of men)

Illustration for The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawn (litho)
8663411 Illustration for The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawn (litho) by Robinson, William Heath (1872-1944) ; Private Collection; (add.info)

Illustration for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (litho)
8664541 Illustration for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (litho) by Furniss, Harry (1854-1925) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Burglary)

Inside, the southern chapel (chapel of St. James?), murals, 1594 (?), scene 5: the count steals the relic
7242663 Inside, the southern chapel (chapel of St. James?), murals, 1594 (?), scene 5: the count steals the relic, all beg him (Philip of Alsace seizes the head; Collegiale Saint-Pierre)

The retreat of the pirates (print)
7339243 The retreat of the pirates (print) by Stanfield, Clarkson Frederick (1793-1867); 27.1x20 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: C)

Life and adventures of Paul Jones, the pirate. Capturing the 'Mellish'
7339236 Life and adventures of Paul Jones, the pirate. Capturing the 'Mellish'. Jones attacked by the coast-guard, while landing a cargo of contraband goods

The Pirate, 19th century (print)
7339229 The Pirate, 19th century (print) by Stanfield, Clarkson Frederick (1793-1867); 14.5x10 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: C. Stanfield; J)

Charlotte de Berry, the female pirate, 19th century (engraving)
7339160 Charlotte de Berry, the female pirate, 19th century (engraving) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 17.7x24.1 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

A Police Officer surprising a burglar and holding a portable lamp
3732650 A Police Officer surprising a burglar and holding a portable lamp; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a Police Officer surprising a burglar and holding a portable lamp)

A burglar activating a basic home security locking system, 1850
3330938 A burglar activating a basic home security locking system, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a burglar activating a basic home security locking system)

Trades: Burglar (colour litho)
8641500 Trades: Burglar (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Burglar. Illustration for one of a set of playing cards used in the game Jack of All Trades)

I was deeply touched (colour litho)
8656809 I was deeply touched (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "I was deeply touched." Pickpockets stealing from a man)

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (colour litho)
8635542 A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush)

Highwayman (colour litho)
8635483 Highwayman (colour litho) by Ward, William Dudley (1879-1935); Private Collection; (add.info.: Highwayman. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn.

Hop-o'-My-Thumb (chromolitho)
8664002 Hop-o'-My-Thumb (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hop-o'-My-Thumb)

Postman from the GPO stealing a letter (colour litho)
8672155 Postman from the GPO stealing a letter (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Postman from the GPO stealing a letter)

Boy about to throw a snowball (chromolitho)
8677516 Boy about to throw a snowball (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Boy about to throw a snowball)

New York woman stealing from a sleeping man in the park (engraving)
8664227 New York woman stealing from a sleeping man in the park (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The pirate of the parks)

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"Burglary: A Historical Perspective on the Art of Thievery" Intrigue and fascination surround the concept of burglary, as even prominent figures like Princess Diana and Prince Charles paid a visit to the Met Police to understand its complexities. Little Tom Thumb, in 1938 print, reminds us that even small individuals can be entangled in this criminal world. Dating back to 1565, Philip Galle's "The Parable of the Good Shepherd" depicts a moral tale where thieves lurk amidst innocence. Leslie Phillips' sad countenance captures the aftermath of having his house stripped bare, losing thousands in valuables. "The Thieves on the Roof Awaken the Merchant, " an intriguing folio from Kalila wa Dimna, transports us to ancient times when cunning robbers plotted their schemes. Meanwhile, a robber running away with a money bag symbolizes both desperation and audacity. A captivating oil painting titled "Portrait of a Kleptomaniac" from c. 1820-24 delves into psychological aspects behind thefts - exploring motivations beyond mere greed. Pierrot's stolen roasted partridge is immortalized in an enchanting engraving from 1880 titled "The Cat Steals Pierrot's Roasted Partridge. " From centuries ago comes "The Fool Of Reuter And Schreiber" (1660-86), depicted through brush and Indian ink on paper - reminding us that foolishness often accompanies thieving endeavors. Similarly, "The Fox-Tailed Jester" portrays another whimsical character involved in illicit activities. Lastly, we encounter an amusing illustration from 1936 named "The Parroquet -- To The Thief. . " where a parrot exposes feline mischief while screaming for justice. Even historic Germany witnessed highwaymen lurking within forests during 1898; their horses patiently awaiting unsuspecting victims. Through these diverse glimpses into history and artistry surrounding burglary, we are reminded of the timeless allure and consequences associated with this age-old crime.