Fraud Blocker Skip to main content

Simonin Collection

Simonin, a name that echoes through the annals of history, is intertwined with the fascinating world of mining

Background image
Simonin Collection: 19th-century tin mine, Cornwall
Background image
Simonin Collection: 19th-century gold mining, Australia
Background image
Simonin Collection: 19th-century coal mining
Background image
Simonin Collection: Engraving of Firearms Ornament, 1693 or 1695. Creator: Claude Simonin
Background image
Simonin Collection: Plusievrs Pieces et Ornements Darquebuzerie (4th extended edition), ca. 1776
Background image
Simonin Collection: Early 19th century coal miner working a narrow seam, c1868
Background image
Simonin Collection: Sinking a mineshaft by Trigers method (1841) devised for use in the difficult
Background image
Simonin Collection: Miners working in a timbered level. From Underground Life: or, Mines and Miners by Louis Simonin
Background image
Simonin Collection: Pit ponies in their underground stable in a coal mine. The ponies were used to haul
Background image
Simonin Collection: Mining captain in full ceremonial dress and carrying his baton of office: Saxony, Germany
Background image
Simonin Collection: Fossilised tree trunks in Treuil coal mine, St Etienne, France. From Underground Life: or
Background image
Simonin Collection: Cornish miners boring a hole to take a charge of explosive. One miner holds the metal borer upright
Background image
Simonin Collection: Accident in a mine shaft caused by the engine man at the pit head starting the movement
Background image
Simonin Collection: Miners in the Harz mines, Germany, descending the ladder shaft by the light of an oil lamp
Background image
Simonin Collection: A Cornish winze shaft, used for exploration. A man attached to a rope is being lowered
Background image
Simonin Collection: Miners working metal deposits by means of descending levels, a method practised in Hungary
Background image
Simonin Collection: Man-engine or movable ladder adopted in Cornish mines. The movable ladder was powered
Background image
Simonin Collection: Fontaines safety cage for mine shafts. If the rope or chain suspending the cage
Background image
Simonin Collection: Coal miner descending the mine shaft on the looped end of a rope desperately trying
Background image
Simonin Collection: Coal miners, carrying their safety lamps, being lowered down the pit shaft on a chain
Background image
Simonin Collection: Scene in a German metalliferous mine just the change of shift. The miners and the
Background image
Simonin Collection: Using a compass to dial the plan of a metalliferous mine, Germany. From Underground Life: or
Background image
Simonin Collection: Using a long tom to wash for gold in the Californian gold fields. The miners
Background image
Simonin Collection: Explosion of Fire-damp (methane) in a mine. From Underground Life: or, Mines
Background image
Simonin Collection: Using fire extinguishers to attack a fire in a coal mine. From Underground Life: or
Background image
Simonin Collection: Miners breaking up rock by setting a fire on it. When the rock cooled it would crack
Background image
Simonin Collection: Mine survey in progress. When this was done, rails were lifted and as much metal
Background image
Simonin Collection: The Penitent, or Fireman. This was the miner who, swathed in damp sacking, undertook
Background image
Simonin Collection: Miners descending a shaft standing on rim of a tub, holding on to the chains it is hanging by
Background image
Simonin Collection: A horse-whim of horse-gin. Such a device was used to raise coal from the bottom of a mine
Background image
Simonin Collection: A pit pony being lowered down a mine shaft in the Creuzot coalfield, France. From Underground Life
Background image
Simonin Collection: Coal tubs colliding in a pit shaft leaving the men riding on them holding on for their lives
Background image
Simonin Collection: Searching for coal by boring, Pas de Calais Coalfield, France. Changing the rods
Background image
Simonin Collection: Engineers in leather clothing descending the shaft at Creuzot coal mine to examine the pumps
Background image
Simonin Collection: Miners in a metal mine, Campiglia, Tuscany, Italy, working in a stope. The men
Background image
Simonin Collection: Mine working in the South Staffordshire Coalfield, England. In this thick seam pillars
Background image
Simonin Collection: Miners in Chihuahua, Mexico, ascending a mineshaft by means of crude steps carrying
Background image
Simonin Collection: Working metal deposits at Stolberg, Prussia, Germany, in direct or descending steps
Background image
Simonin Collection: Mule train carrying diamonds mined in Brazil being escorted by a military guard
Background image
Simonin Collection: 19th-century mining machine
Background image
Simonin Collection: 19th-century Native American mine worker
Background image
Simonin Collection: 19th-century gold mining, California
Background image
Simonin Collection: 19th-century mining
Background image
Simonin Collection: 19th-century step mining, Prussia
Background image
Simonin Collection: Heavy metal minerals
Background image
Simonin Collection: Miners and their wives, 19th century
Background image
Simonin Collection: Coal mine fire, 19th century
Background image
Simonin Collection: Mining safety cage, 19th century


All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Simonin, a name that echoes through the annals of history, is intertwined with the fascinating world of mining. From the 19th-century tin mines of Cornwall to the coal mines that dotted the landscape, Simonin's legacy spans continents and centuries. In Australia's gold rush era, Simonin's influence was felt as prospectors sought their fortunes in shimmering rivers and dusty hillsides. The allure of precious metals captivated many souls, driving them to venture into uncharted territories in search of wealth beyond imagination. But Simonin's talents extended far beyond mining alone. An engraving from 1693 or 1695 showcases his skillful craftsmanship in firearms ornamentation. His intricate designs brought life to cold steel, turning weapons into works of art. The realm of darquebuzerie also fell under Simonin's purview. In ca. 1776, he contributed to "Plusievrs Pieces et Ornements Darquebuzerie, " an extended edition filled with exquisite pieces and ornamental wonders that delighted connoisseurs around the world. As time marched on, so did technological advancements in mining techniques. A glimpse into c1868 reveals an early 19th-century coal miner diligently working a narrow seam using primitive tools and sheer determination. Meanwhile, Trigers method revolutionized mine shaft sinking in 1841 – a testament to human ingenuity overcoming challenging conditions underground. Louis Simonin immortalized miners' lives through his work "Underground Life: or Mines and Miners. " Within its pages lies a vivid depiction of miners laboring away amidst timbered levels while pit ponies patiently awaited their call for duty below ground – stalwart companions hauling loads unimaginable for mere mortals. Not limited by borders or boundaries, Simonin left his mark across Europe as well. A mining captain from Saxony donned full ceremonial dress while carrying his baton of office – symbolizing authority over operations that shaped the region's industrial landscape.