Distinctions Collection

Workman & Boss / Doffs Cap
A workman walking in the street with his wife puts his finger to his cap when his employer rides past

Society & Shop Girls
Two elegant, society ladies are attended to by a shop girl who sees to their every whim. Several pairs of discarded shoes lie about the floor for the assistant to pick up later

WW2 - R. A. F. Rank Distinctions
An illustrated educational disagram which displays the rank distinctions of the British Royal Air Force during WW2. Date: circa 1940s

Bible, New Testament: parable of Lazarus and the rich man
The parable of Lazarus and the rich man

Monte Carlo, saying farewell to the fishermen (colour litho)
5228849 Monte Carlo, saying farewell to the fishermen (colour litho) by Bonvoisin, Maurice Charles Mathieu (Mars) (1849-1912); Private Collection; (add.info.: Monte Carlo)

Young man kissing the maid (b / w photo)
1095102 Young man kissing the maid (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Young man kissing the maid. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

He Fell at Waterloo (colour litho)
3641587 He Fell at Waterloo (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: He Fell at Waterloo. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Are You First Class? (colour litho)
2815990 Are You First Class? (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Are You First Class? Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

The mistress of the house giving instructions to her maid (b / w photo)
3093546 The mistress of the house giving instructions to her maid (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Casting steel ingots at Messers Firth and Sons Factory
Front cover of The Illustrated London News, 28th August 1875, showing the Royal visit to Sheffield. Casting steel ingots at Messers Firth and Sons Factory. Date: 1875

Better is little with fear of the Lord
LLM461560 Better is little with fear of the Lord by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Better is little with fear of the Lord)

You d never think I worked for my living if you could see me at Blackpool (colour litho)
3641780 You d never think I worked for my living if you could see me at Blackpool (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Outcast! (engraving)
6016537 Outcast! (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Outcast! Illustration for The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News)

BLOOMSBURY COUNTY COURT
The Bloomsbury County Court. Date: 1861

SWEET ORANGE SELLER
Two well-dressed ladies buy sweet China oranges from a rather shabby-looking poor street vendor Date: 1794

Cartoon, The Grand Old Name of Gentleman
Cartoon, THE GRAND OLD NAME OF GENTLEMAN -- Me and another gentleman ere as just been avin a bet on the breed of yodog. Date: 1888

COURT OF FRANCOIS I
FRANCOIS I OF FRANCE depicted with his court, religious on his right, secular on his left, while the people work on the land farming, planting vines etc Date: 1494 - 1547

CRUIKSHANK - SOCIETY
An Outline of Society in Our Own Times Date: 1846

TOO MUCH PROSPERITY
The result of too much prosperity - conspicuous consumption by the rich, while the poor starve Date: 1906

VICTORIAS SUPPORTERS
Victoria depicted with her loyal lion - the workman with his clay pipe and side of beef - and her unicorn - the upper class with its cigars and champagne Date: 1887

FINISHING TOUCHES 1884
Servant puts the finishing touches to her mistresses dress. Date: 1884

THALBERG / CAROL SINGERS
Two poor children in the street sing outside the window of two rich childrens house who give them some money Date: Circa 1815

TENANT FARMER & LAWYER TENANT FARMER & LAWYER
Tenant farmer at the mercy landowners: awkward scene at lawyers office as farmer is refused renewal of his lease Date: 1865

Satire on womens pursuit of aristocratic status
A satire on womens pursuit of aristocratic status in marriage, showing women angling for fish wearing crowns of the peerage. Date: circa 1840

Satire on the way love worships ancestry
A satire on the way Love Worships Ancestry -- the inflated respect for ancestry and aristocratic status -- showing Cupid kneeling to an heraldic device with a crown on top. Date: 1890

The Winter Family on a Summers Day! Posing for a family group portrait on the back step of their home. Three generations pictured. Date: 1920s

Her Majesty Queen Mary visits an East End Garden
A marvellous photograph of Her Majesty Queen Mary (1867-1953) visits an East End Garden (and the owners of said residence) on 10th July 1935

Chateau de Veves, 1875
The Chateau de Veves, at Dinant, Belgium, viewed from the village. Date: 1875

Street Vendor selling Nuts to Gentleman with a Simian Visage
Street Vendor cheekily offering the sale of some nuts to a diminutive Gentleman with a distinctive Simian visage!! Date: 1899

Mark Twain meets Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, 1907
Mark Twain(1835-1910), humourist, meets with King Edward VII(1841-1910) and Queen Alexandra(1844 -1925) at a Windsor garden party in 1907

Class / Capital and Labour
CAPITAL AND LABOUR Satire on the class system

Class Distinction 1934
Three workers laugh at a fat capitalist taking his dog for a walk. Date: 1934

Class distinction between two schoolboys, discussing another boy: I have heard today that his father keeps a store! Date: circa 1895

Gentleman talking to farmers with produce, c. 1800
A gentleman stops two farmers with baskets of produce on a donkey presumably on their way to market, c. 1800 Date: C.1800

Tango craze: learning to dance the tango, 1913
The humble Argentine origins of the tango are contrasted with the wealthy London set that have taken it up in 1913, as a result of the tango craze. Date: 1913

Two gardeners sweeping leaves, 1889
Two gardeners at work sweeping leaves in the grounds of a stately home. Date: 1889

Womens costume c. 1600
Costumes of Burgher-women and a country woman, in the time of the Merry Wives of Windsor. Date: c.1600

Panorama of a fashionable wedding, 1855
Panorama of a fashionable wedding in 1855-relations, clergy and hangers on depicted. Date: 1855

Elderly lady not overly generous with her tipping
" Have you got change for a threepenny-piece, Adolphus? I want to give the porter a gratuity." The porter appears to already be expecting the impending disappointment! Date: 1894

Country Tramp dismayed at only available activity being work
" Poor Man! And can t you find anything to do?" " Nothing but Work, Liddy." Date: 1898

Millionairess quizzes Lord on his wealth (and evident lack thereof, despite appearances!) American Millionairess - " And have you really got a Coronet

Wit of a toothless old soak when faced with Sally Army pair
The witty reposte of a toothless old soak when faced with a pair of Salvation Army women: Salvation Sal (to village toper) - " If thou doesn t mend thy ways, Ben Bosker

Street Urchin offers appraisal of passing pretty lady
The London Street Urchin (to companion over the way) - " Ow would that suit yer, Bill?". A young scamp offering an honest appraisal to his pal of a passing well-dressed

Tramp asks a horrified lady for a hairpin to clean his pipe
A Tramp asks a horrified smart lady, seated on a park bench for a hairpin to clean his pipe! Weary Willy seating himself beside nervous Miss Jones) - Will yer lend me a nairpin, Lidy

Edwin Ray Lankester (1847-1929), British zoologist who established clear morphological distinctions in different orders of invertebrates, demonstrating that they had different origins

The General Strike, 1926: volunteers
Are we downhearted? The answer is Negative. A page from The Tatler, applauding the magnificent response which all classes of Society made to the Governments call for volunteers in the wake of

The Peace Illuminations - A Street Scene by G. Thomas, 1856
A crowd gathers in the street to marvel at the peace illuminations in celebration of the end of the Crimean war. Date: 1856

Napoleon and Josephine enjoy street musicians

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"Embracing Distinctions: From Workman & Boss to Society & Shop Girls" In the realm of social hierarchies, they have always played a significant role. Just like a workman doffs his cap in respect to his boss, society too has its own set of rules and customs. During World War II, R. A. F. Rank they were vital in maintaining order and discipline within the forces. These ranks symbolized courage, leadership, and dedication. Drawing inspiration from the Bible's New Testament parable of Lazarus and the rich man, we are reminded that even in death, there exist stark distinctions between heaven and hell. Transporting us back to 1875 at Chateau de Veves or bidding farewell to fishermen in Monte Carlo through vibrant lithographs reminds us of how different places can hold their own unique charm while also highlighting societal divisions. Captured forever in black-and-white photography is a young man kissing a maid - an image that speaks volumes about class boundaries being crossed or challenged. The color lithograph titled "He Fell at Waterloo" depicts the bravery displayed by soldiers on the battlefield while emphasizing the distinction between life and death during war times. Another colorful lithograph titled "Are You First Class?" prompts us to ponder our achievements and strive for excellence regardless of our circumstances or background. A glimpse into domestic life reveals yet another distinction as we witness the mistress giving instructions to her maid - a reminder that power dynamics often shape relationships within households. Stepping into Messers Firth and Sons Factory where steel ingots are cast showcases both technological advancements but also highlights disparities among workers based on skill sets or positions held within industries. Lastly, echoing wisdom from Proverbs 15:16 "Better is little with fear of the Lord, " we learn that true contentment lies not in material possessions but rather in embracing humility before God despite any worldly distinctions we may encounter along our journey.