1939 Collection

Children with Lighted Candles, 1939. Oil on canvas. Nikolai Petrovich Bogdanov-Belsky 1868-1945 Russian painter. On wall at top left is an image of the Virgin and Child

Westminster Hospital opening April 1939
A great event in hospital history the new Westminister Hospital will be open on 20th April 1939 by His Majesty King accompanied by Her Majesty The Queen

GONE WITH THE WIND, 1939. American poster, 1939, featuring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, for the film Gone with the Wind after the novel by Margaret Mitchell

Mill Bay and Harbour, Salcombe, Devon - Painted by William Carruthers Affleck for the Sevenoaks based publishing and printing company J

Mrs Tabithas Cat Academy Louis Wain
Humorous illustration by Louis Wain (1860-1939) showing a feline teacher instructing her kitten pupils

King George VI - fine photographic portrait
A very fine photographic portrait of King George VI (1895-1952) - King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth. Date: circa 1939

WW2 poster, Beware of Spies
WW2 poster, Warning! Beware of Spies! Don t Talk. The Enemy Has Ears Everywhere. Published in September 1939, on the outbreak of the Second World War. Date: 1939

LAUREL AND HARDY, 1939. Publicity still from the motion picture Flying Deuces, 1939

Aerial view of University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
Aerial view of the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, USA, with the sports field and spectators clearly visible on the right. Date: 1939

Spitfires over Forth
German Heinkel IIIs over the Forth Bridge are intercepted by Spitfires - the first defensive aerial action of the war

FRANCO BAHAMONDE, Francisco (1892-1975). Spanish military man and politician. Dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975

GONE WITH THE WIND, 1939. Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O Hara in a still from the film Gone With The Wind, 1939

Mill Pond, Swanage
A lovely tranquil scene, with ducks on the old mill-pond in the charming village of Swanage, Dorset, England. Date: 1939

Citroen Traction Avant or Light 15

Tate & Lyle Refinery
A coastal barge sailing by the famous Tate and Lyle sugar refinery works, Plaistow Wharf, off Silvertown, North Woolwich, east London

Bay of Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California, USA
View of the Bay of Avalon, with the Casino in the background, Casino Point, Santa Catalina Island, California, USA. Date: 1939

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Bomber; Second World War, 1939
Photograph of a Royal Air Force Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber in flight, 1939

Ernest Hemingway Fishing
Sun Valley, Idaho: 1939 Author Ernest Hemingway holding two trout he has caught

GONE WITH THE WIND, 1939. Hattie McDaniel assists Vivien Leigh while offering some unwelcomed advice

Harrogate Ladies College
A girls school in a castle: Harrogate Colleges pleasant retreat at Lord Swintons residence near Ripon, Yorkshire at the beginning of World War II

Poster advertising Royal Mail Lines to the West Indies
Poster advertising a Royal Mail Lines cruise to the West Indies on the liner Atlantis

Scunthorpe Iron Works
Iron-smelting works at Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England

WIZARD OF OZ, 1939. Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion in the 1939 MGM production of The Wizard of Oz

Britannia and Eve, July 1939
Front cover illustration depicting a woman with a typical 1940s hairstyle hugging her wire-haired fox terrier dog

W B Yeats / Nobel
WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS Irish poet and dramatist

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA - Memorial Stadium, University of Minnesota. Date: 1939

Woman police officer Annie Matthews, Hyde Park, London
Woman police officer Annie Matthews (nickname Big Ben), on duty at the childrens lido in Hyde Park, London. Before joining the Met Police, Annie worked as a housemaid at Glamis Castle in Scotland

Robin Redbreast
Poem by M. Nightingale about the robin, featuring a lovely decoration by Gladys M. Rees. Date: 1939

Variety Theatre, Dr. Walford Bodie
Dr. Walford Bodie 1869 - 1939, One of the most famed and controversial Music Hall performers of his day. Known as the Electrical Wizzard

Propaganda poster: careless talk costs lives
Second world war propaganda poster warning people that careless talk costs lives. Tell nobody -- not even her

Police Officer & Triumph
Metropolitan Police officer on a Triumph motorcycle during World War II

Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland - Painted by William Carruthers Affleck for the Sevenoaks based publishing and printing company J

Starting Post, Saratoga Race Course, NY State, USA
Jockeys and their horses, including War Admiral, approaching the Starting Post, Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, New York State, USA. Date: 1939

Sunbeam Talbot advertisement, 1939
An advertisement for Britains Most Exclusive Light Car, the Sunbeam Talbot 10, where the ad lets the car do the talking! Date: 1939

SHERLOCK HOLMES. Basil Rathbone (1892-1967). English actor. In the role of Sherlock Holmes

WIZARD OF OZ, 1939. Judy Garland as Dorothy, with her dog Toto, in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz

Plane arriving, Santa Catalina Island, California, USA
Plane arriving at Avalon Bay, Santa Catalina Island, California, USA, with the Casino on the left and the Hotel St Catherine on the right. Date: 1939

Greetings from Akron, Ohio, USA
Greetings postcard from Akron, Ohio, USA, rubber manufacturing center of the world, showing the Goodyear Memorial and a rubber tyre shape containing three scenes (Firestone, Goodrich and Goodyear)

HMS Achilles, British light cruiser, WW2
HMS Achilles (70), British light class cruiser which served with the Royal New Zealand Navy during the Second World War. Seen here with a seaplane on board. Date: 1939

Loss of HMS Courageous by G. H. Davis
The loss of HMS Courageous: one of the Royal Navys aircraft carriers sunk by a German submarine. A sectional drawing of the vessel, showing amidships the boiler room section

Margot Fonteyn repairing her ballet shoes
Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991), British ballet dancer, pictured at her Kensington home repairing her ballet shoes around the time she danced the role of Aurora in Sleeping Beauty at a Royal Command Gala

Hawker Hurricane Fighter, 1939
Diagram illustration of a British Hawker Hurricane Fighter, able to fly at a height of 35, 000 feet, with a 600 mile range and eight fixed Browning guns, firing 250 rounds in 10 seconds

HMS Jervis Bay, armed merchant cruiser, WW2
HMS Jervis Bay, an armed merchant cruiser which served during the Second World War. Launched 1922 (as a passenger ship), commissioned for war service 1939

Citroen Traction Avant Light 15

Shah of Iran - Reza Shah Pevlavi
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, (1919 - 1980). Emperor of Iran from 16th September 1941, until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11th February 1979"

Barrel Girl
Bottoms up! A little girl accidentally reveals the fact that her knickers match her dress as she leans over a water butt!

Advert for Bentley, the Silent Sports Car, featuring a Bentley motor car in front of a house in the village of Stratford St Mary in Essex. Buy a car made in the United Kingdom. Date: 1939

The Coldstream Guards taking over the Colour
circa 1910s

Arlington, Virginia, USA - Fort Myer Chapel Date: 1939

Hampstead Heath 1939
Two women walking together up Sandy Lane, an avenue of huge trees leading to Spaniards Lane, Hampstead Heath, north London, England, during winter snow. Date: January 1939

British RAF aeroplanes in 1939 by G. H. Davis
The huge array of aircraft in the RAF in 1939, imposing for its size and variety. 37 types of machine, ranging from the Sunderland flying boat to light trainers

Polish cavalry at the start of World War Two
Poland as a military power: cavalry, tanks and infantry (part of a spread in the Illustrated London News). Polands impressive horse cavalry are seen here, probably the best in Europe (the ILN says)

Richmond, Yorkshire
Fine view of the military town of Richmond, North Yorkshire, England, showing the Market Square. Date: June 1939

WIZARD OF OZ, 1939. Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West and Judy Garland as Dorothy

Possession is nine points of the law by Louis Wain
Illustration by Louis Wain showing a cat occupying a cast-off saucepan or cooking pot during snowy weather. A selection of birds, including a magpie and a blue tit bemusedly face the cat

Great Snoring
A signpost pointing to the village of Great Snoring, North Norfolk, England, has clearly effected the man beneath it!

Empire Air Day Poster
A poster for the Empire Air Day on Saturday 20th May 1939 at Warmwell near Dorchester. The Hawker Hurricane planes played a key role in attack and defence during WW2

Krupskaya (Lenins Wife)
NADEZHDA KONSTANTINOVNA KRUPSKAYA Russian Revolutionary - married Lenin in 1898

Pope Pius XII (Card)
POPE PIUS XII (Eugenio Pacelli) in 1950

Scenery near Lamlash, Isle of Arran, Scotland - Painted by artist Alexander Cameron for the Sevenoaks based publishing and printing company J. Salmon - Painted 1939 Date: 1939

Cir Mohr from Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran, Scotland - Painted by artist Alexander Cameron for the Sevenoaks based publishing and printing company J. Salmon - Painted 1939 Date: 1939

A Southern Railway poster advertising Ramsgate, 1939 (colour lithograph)
1769905 A Southern Railway poster advertising Ramsgate, 1939 (colour lithograph) by Kenneth Shoesmith (1890-1939) & Verney L

Moss, the dog. Moss the dog, owned by Mr Cledwyn Morgan of Ystradgynlais, near Swansea, Wales, bears the distinction of being a double hero

Booklet cover, Santa Catalina Island, California, USA -- The Magic Isle. Date: 1939

Card commemorating Graf Spee destruction, WW2
Card commemorating the destruction of the German cruiser, Admiral Graf Spee, on 13 December 1939 by HMS Exeter, Ajax and Achilles following the Battle of the River Plate. Date: 1939

Binocular Testing
A line of girls tests each pair of binoculars made for the Services before it leaves the factory. Their employers, Ross Ltd of Clapham, the largest optical instrument manufacturer in the country

Men standing in front of the Board of Trade bar and gambling house in Butte, Montana
MONTANA: GAMBLING, 1939. Men standing in front of the Board of Trade bar and gambling house in Butte, Montana. Photograph by Arthur Rothstein, 1939

LCC-LFB enclosed pump at Lambeth fire station
Pictured at Brigade Headquarters, Lambeth SE1, an example of an 1930 enclosed London pump with carried breathing apparatus

LCC-LFB Woolwich fire station, SE London
The crew of Woolwich fire station, Sunbury Street, on parade on the station forecourt. WW2 is pending and an Auxiliary Fire Service fire engine is standing in the station next to the LFB pump escape

LFB wartime emergency appliance and trailer pump, WW2
A Fordson Unit and trailer pump at the London Fire Brigade headquarters, Lambeth. These were just some of the 2000 adapted vehicles utilised as AFS fire appliances

Cover design, Western Airways timetable
Cover design, Western Airways summer timetable, showing a map with destinations: Manchester, Birmingham, Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol, Weston, Barnstaple, Newquay and Penzance. 1939

Womens Land Army in action, 1939
Land Girls following a tractor drawn potato digger, gathering produce before it can be affected by frost. Date: 1939

Derry or Londonderry
The fair city of Derry (or Londonderry), photographed from the River Foyle, Northern Ireland. The spire of St. Eugenes Cathedral is on the left of the photograph. Date: May 1939

GONE WITH THE WIND, 1939. Clark Gable as Rhett Butler

WIZARD OF OZ, 1939. Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow in the 1939 MGM production of The Wizard of Oz

WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 MGM production of The Wizard of Oz

Napier Heston Racer G-AFOK with Sabre I Date: 1939

The Tatler front-cover: The Duchess of Windsor
The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, in The Tatler magazine, March 1939. The caption reads: This portrait of the beautiful wife of H.R.H

West Indies Cricket Team, 1939
The West Indies Cricket Team on their visit to England in 1939

Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (1848-1939) shown in the late 1860s with a pet dog. Louise was the fourth daughter and sixth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Evening Wear 1939
Evening gowns by Lavin and Molyneux

O Connell Bridge and River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland

Recruitment poster for the British Army
Poster for the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, encouraging everyone to Step Into Your Place. A long line of people, soldiers and civilians, combine in their effort to win the war

HAWKER HURRICANE 1
Though lacking the glamour of the Spitfire, the plainer Hurricane is more widely used, downing more German aircraft than the rest of the defences combined

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"1939: A Year of Captivating Moments and Iconic Figures" Step into the world of 1939, where history unfolded in mesmerizing ways. Mrs. Tabitha's Cat Academy, inspired by the whimsical artistry of Louis Wain, delighted feline enthusiasts with its enchanting charm. In a regal display, King George VI graced us with his fine photographic portrait, embodying dignity and strength during a pivotal time in British history. From high above the clouds, an aerial view revealed the sprawling University in Dayton, Ohio - a hub of knowledge and innovation that shaped countless futures. Meanwhile, Laurel and Hardy brought laughter to screens worldwide with their timeless comedy in "Flying Deuces, " capturing hearts through their hilarious antics. Dreams set sail as Royal Mail Lines enticed adventurers to embark on unforgettable journeys to the West Indies - promising exotic landscapes and vibrant cultures awaiting discovery. The Bay of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island beckoned sun-seekers with its pristine shores and azure waters; a paradise offering respite from everyday worries. On bustling streets across continents, the Citroen Traction Avant or Light 15 epitomized elegance and sophistication - an automobile that turned heads wherever it roamed. Amidst escalating tensions leading up to World War II, the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Bomber took flight as a symbol of military might – poised for action when duty called. Spitfires soared triumphantly over Forth's skies – guardians protecting freedom against looming threats; their sleek silhouettes inspiring hope amidst uncertainty. Education thrived at Harrogate Ladies College as young minds blossomed within its hallowed halls – nurturing future leaders who would shape society for years to come. At Scunthorpe Iron Works' fiery furnaces, steel forged progress; hands labored tirelessly to build foundations for industrial advancement that would transform nations forevermore. And finally. .