Society Gallery

Smoking club, 18th century artwork

Smoking club, 18th century artwork. The practice of smoking tobacco was popularised in England and Ireland in the 1580s and 1590s by the English soldier and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1552-1618). This artwork, by the English caricaturist James Gillray (1757-1815), shows members of the House of Commons puffing smoke at each other. Those present include the Speaker (left) Charles James Fox (1749-1806), the Prime Minister (second from left) William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806) and the Home Secretary (second from right) Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811). This copy of this artwork was published in the work 'Tobacco, its History and Associations' (1859) by the English engraver Frederick William Fairholt (1814-1866).

© GEORGE ARENTS COLLECTION/NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY/ SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Mk.1A G-ALIK

Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Mk.1A G-ALIK (msn WA/H/3) at the Royal Aeronautical Society Garden Party on 15th June 1952. In the background can be seen British European Airways Bell 47B-3 G-AKFB. G-ALIK was later converted as the prototype Westland Widgeon, changing registration to G-APPS (Tom you need to flip the negative) Date: 1952

© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

The Princess Mary Caravan - The Caravaners at work. The Girls' Friendly Society supported

The Princess Mary Caravan - The Caravaners at work. The Girls' Friendly Society supported young women by help in finding work, providing hostels etc. The caravan, shown here with GFS workers, was purchased in 1922 as a mobile publicity unit, the cost being met by Princess Mary, a strong supporter of the Society. Date: circa 1922

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection