Central Office Buildings Collection

Instrument room at the Electric Telegraph Office, 1860
3480042 Instrument room at the Electric Telegraph Office, 1860; (add.info.: Instrument room at the Electric Telegraph Office; Lothbury; London. 1860.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The operating room at the General Post Office, 1874
3480011 The operating room at the General Post Office, 1874; (add.info.: The operating room at the General Post Office; St Martin's-Le-Grand; London)

Instrument room at the Electric Telegraph Office, 1855
3480004 Instrument room at the Electric Telegraph Office, 1855; (add.info.: Instrument room at the Electric Telegraph Office; Lothbury; London. 1855.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The Long Office at the Railway Clearing House, 1884
3478923 The Long Office at the Railway Clearing House, 1884; (add.info.: The Long Office at the Railway Clearing House: This organisation was set up to make it possible for passengers)

Clerk, Bookkeeper or accountant struggling with accounts ledgers, 1878
3478920 Clerk, Bookkeeper or accountant struggling with accounts ledgers, 1878; (add.info.: Clerk, Bookkeeper or accountant struggling with accounts ledgers, 1878.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The offices of the crucible steel section, 1890
3478912 The offices of the crucible steel section, 1890; (add.info.: The offices of the crucible steel section, Thos. Firth & Sons, Norfolk Works, Sheffield, circa 1890)

Letter X as xylograph. Doll's alphabet. Imaging of Pont-a-Mousson by Louis Vagne, c.1900 (lithograph)
DUV4201872 Letter X as xylograph. Doll's alphabet. Imaging of Pont-a-Mousson by Louis Vagne, c.1900 (lithograph); 31.5x24.5 cm; Private Collection; Photo © Duvallon

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

The Long Office at the Railway Clearing House, 1896
3478922 The Long Office at the Railway Clearing House, 1896; (add.info.: The Long Office at the Railway Clearing House: This organisation was set up to make it possible for passengers)

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)

Mail censorship office, Portsmouth, 1944 (watercolour on paper)
7342245 Mail censorship office, Portsmouth, 1944 (watercolour on paper) by Hennell, Thomas Barclay (1903-45); 60.9x83.8 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Between 1910 and 1920 - Office with women and typewriters (b/w photo)
7134179 Between 1910 and 1920 - Office with women and typewriters (b/w photo); (add.info.: Between 1910 and 1920 - Office with women and typewriters); GG Vintage Images; UIG

Telegraph clerks at the General Post Office St Martin's-le-Grand, 1888
3480000 Telegraph clerks at the General Post Office St Martin's-le-Grand, 1888; (add.info.: Telegraph clerks at the General Post Office St Martin's-le-Grand; London)

Typo Typewriter machine, 1890
3480647 Typo Typewriter machine, 1890; (add.info.: French Typo Typewriter machine advertised, circa 1890.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Clearing House at the Bank of England, 1881
3478921 Clearing House at the Bank of England, 1881; (add.info.: Clearing House at the Bank of England, London 1881.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The offices of a Publisher, 1870
3478915 The offices of a Publisher, 1870; (add.info.: The offices of a Publisher, 1870.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Dutch West India Company's House, Amsterdam
7243365 Dutch West India Company's House, Amsterdam.; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Dutch West India Company's House on Haarlemmer Straat, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1623-1647)

Instrument room at the Electric Telegraph Office, 1860
3479989 Instrument room at the Electric Telegraph Office, 1860; (add.info.: Instrument room at the Electric Telegraph Office; Lothbury; London. 1860.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Female clerks at a desk in an office, 1882
3478829 Female clerks at a desk in an office, 1882; (add.info.: Female clerks at a desk in an office. From The Quiver, London, 1882.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The offices of the crucible steel section, 1890
3478913 The offices of the crucible steel section, 1890; (add.info.: The offices of the crucible steel section, Thos. Firth & Sons, Norfolk Works, Sheffield, circa 1890)

Advert for Remington Typewriter, 1890
3478930 Advert for Remington Typewriter, 1890; (add.info.: Advert for Remington Typewriter, in an American newspaper, dated 1890.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Bookkeeper or accountant struggling to complete accounts, 1893
3478919 Bookkeeper or accountant struggling to complete accounts, 1893; (add.info.: Bookkeeper or accountant struggling to complete accounts in a Paris office, 1893.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Clerk, Bookkeeper or accountant struggling to concentrate as he notices a woman in a window opposite him, 1868
3478917 Clerk, Bookkeeper or accountant struggling to concentrate as he notices a woman in a window opposite him, 1868; (add.info.: Clerk)

The offices of the Publisher, George Newnes, 1892
3478914 The offices of the Publisher, George Newnes, 1892; (add.info.: The offices of the Publisher, George Newnes, 1892. Note the Gas lamps from the ceiling.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Telegraph office worker forwarding a message in Morse Code
7261266 Telegraph office worker forwarding a message in Morse Code; Private Collection; (add.info.: Telegraph office worker forwarding a message in Morse Code, 19th century)

Laboratory of chemistry in wood and slate with instruments installed by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena (1747-1792)
DEX5040741 Laboratory of chemistry in wood and slate with instruments installed by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena (1747-1792), 18th century (photo); Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza

A female telegraph clerk at the General Post Office, 1888
3480001 A female telegraph clerk at the General Post Office, 1888; (add.info.: A female telegraph clerk at the General Post Office; St Martin's-le-Grand; London)

Clerk at his desk in an office in Victorian London, 1876
3478926 Clerk at his desk in an office in Victorian London, 1876; (add.info.: Clerk at his desk in an office in Victorian London, watching as two managers converse)

Clerk in Victorian London, passing a message to a messenger, 1884
3478925 Clerk in Victorian London, passing a message to a messenger, 1884; (add.info.: Clerk at his desk in an office in Victorian London, passing a message to a messenger)

Bookkeeper or accountant struggling to complete accounts in a Victorian office, 1893
3478916 Bookkeeper or accountant struggling to complete accounts in a Victorian office, 1893; (add.info.: Bookkeeper or accountant struggling to complete accounts in a Victorian office)

The interior of a French sorting office, 1850
3478530 The interior of a French sorting office, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the interior of a French sorting office in Paris. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Central telegraph office Paris, 1870 (engraving)
3480010 Central telegraph office Paris, 1870 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Central telegraph office Paris, 1870.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Telegraphic office in Paris, 19th century (engraving)
2757938 Telegraphic office in Paris, 19th century (engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Sciences. Communication. Coll. Part. Science. Communication)

The Peasant Lawyer (oil on panel)
490284 The Peasant Lawyer (oil on panel) by Brueghel, Pieter the Younger (c.1564-1638) (after); 54.7x87.5 cm; Groeningemuseum, Bruges, Belgium; © Art in Flanders

The Fool Seeking Many Offices, 1660-86 (brush and Indian ink on paper)
7308390 The Fool Seeking Many Offices, 1660-86 (brush and Indian ink on paper) by Stettler, Wilhelm (1643-1708); 11.5x10.5 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

Reading of the will, 1878 (painting)
1745470 Reading of the will, 1878 (painting) by Denneulin, Jules (1835-1904); (add.info.: Reading of the will, painting by Denneulin, 1878); © Tallandier

Woman complains to the police because she was cheated, Office
7279500 Woman complains to the police because she was cheated, Office by Unknown Artist, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman complains to the police because she was cheated, Office)

The Serious Riots in Buenos-Ayres, the Demonstration Against the Offices of the El Pais Newspaper
2798454 The Serious Riots in Buenos-Ayres, the Demonstration Against the Offices of the El Pais Newspaper, in Calle Florida (colour litho) by Beltrame

The skeleton of Death and the lawyer. 1827 (engraving)
7233018 The skeleton of Death and the lawyer. 1827 (engraving) by Dagley, Richard (c.1761-1841); Private Collection; (add.info.: The skeleton of Death and the lawyer)

Liverpool: Offices of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, The Liver Building, Etc
7160896 Liverpool: Offices of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, The Liver Building, Etc, Approach to the Landing Stage (colour litho) by Glynn

Unemployed workers looking for work (engraving)
7185799 Unemployed workers looking for work (engraving) by Small, William (1843-1931) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Unemployed workers looking for work)

Ceres filing case (litho)
7185623 Ceres filing case (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ceres filing case. Illustration from The Artist, an Illustrated Monthly Record of Arts)

Offices of the Board of Agriculture, Westminster, London (b / w photo)
7201839 Offices of the Board of Agriculture, Westminster, London (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Offices of the Board of Agriculture, Westminster)

New shipping offices, Cockspur Street, London (litho)
7200459 New shipping offices, Cockspur Street, London (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: New shipping offices, Cockspur Street, London)

Architectural drawing of the 2nd floor of the Morning Post Building, Strand, London (litho)
7200435 Architectural drawing of the 2nd floor of the Morning Post Building, Strand, London (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

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Central office buildings have witnessed a myriad of stories unfold within their walls, capturing the essence of human existence and society's complexities. From "The Peasant Lawyer, " an oil on panel masterpiece that portrays the struggles and triumphs of those seeking justice, to "The Fool Seeking Many Offices" with its intricate brushwork and Indian ink detailing the relentless pursuit for power in 17th-century Europe. In contrast, "Reading of the will" takes us to a more somber scene, where emotions run high as inheritances are revealed and lives forever altered. Meanwhile, in the bustling city streets, we find a woman complaining to the police about being cheated at an office - a reminder that even within these grand structures, deceit can lurk. Moving beyond national borders, Princess Maria of Piedmont assumes her role as National Inspector of the Italian Red Cross. A symbol of progress and empowerment amidst chaos. Similarly, riots erupt outside newspaper offices in Buenos-Ayres as citizens voice their discontent - highlighting how central office buildings become focal points for societal unrest. Tragedy strikes when Sipiaguine is assassinated by a disguised student inside his ministerial office in Petersburg - illustrating how these buildings can become sites of both political intrigue and violence. Postal employees also suffer while dutifully serving their roles during clashes in Melun; they too bear witness to sacrifice within these hallowed halls. Even leaders are not immune from fate's grasp; we glimpse into The President Of The French Republic's working cabinet mere hours before his untimely demise. Closer to home in Alabama (North America), tensions escalate between law enforcement officials over jurisdictional disputes - reminding us that central office buildings often house conflicts born out of power struggles. Yet amongst all this turmoil lies artistry; "The skeleton of Death and the lawyer" captures mortality's inevitable presence amid legal proceedings.