Thumbing Collection

Le Docteur cherchant querelle à Ratapoil, 1851. Creator: Honore Daumier
Le Docteur cherchant querelle a Ratapoil, 1851. The Doctor quarreling with Ratapoil. Daumier's character Ratapoil (Ratskin) was one of Louis-Napoleon's agents-provocateurs

Bunny Girls from the Playboy Club in London visit Bunny, a village and civil parish in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire, England, 4th August 1966

Poster, Auto Barre, Niort, France. Date: circa 1895

Moroccan boy from Tangiers (photo)
5999867 Moroccan boy from Tangiers (photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Moroccan boy from Tangiers. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

A young couple and their dog trying to hitch a lift view out of a car September 1970

A young couple and their dog trying to hitch a lift on the motorway September 1970

Every hundred yards or so down the A3 motorists find themselves being thumbed for a lift - the goal of hundreds of pop fan hitch hikers is the Isle of Wight

Mrs Caruso, in Flewso the Flier, a pantomime
Mrs Caruso, in Flewso the Flier, the Summerdown revuesical panto, at the Pier Theatre, Eastbourne. 1917

Caricature of Benjamin Disraeli, Conservative leader, thumbing his nose at a hostile audience. 1880

Three young women hitch-hiking from the side of a road in Ipsos, Corfu, Greece

Hippy Hitchers
Two hippy hitch-hikers, thumbing a lift, but will anyone stop for them?

Customs / Gesture
Gestures of contemporary Neapolitans, described by Jorio (thumbing the nose has 20 different meanings !)

Thumbing Ones Nose
She thumbs her nose

Thumbing a Lift
A young man hitch hiker, thumbs a lift from a Denis McCarthy lorry

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"Thumbing Through Time: A Journey of Hitchhiking Adventures" Step back in time to the late 19th century, where a poster advertising Auto Barre catches your eye in Niort, France. Circa 1895, this glimpse into the past reveals the early days of transportation and the art for a ride. Fast forward to London's Playboy Club in the swinging sixties, where Bunny Girls from all walks of life visit Bunny - an iconic symbol of glamour and freedom. These fearless ladies embodyed independence as they thumbed their way through city streets. Venturing further south to Tangiers, Morocco, we encounter a young Moroccan boy captured in a photo. His innocent smile reflects the universal desire for connection and adventure that hitchhiking offers. Meanwhile, Mrs Caruso takes center stage as Flewso the Flier in a pantomime performance. Thumbing her way across stages with grace and humor, she reminds us that hitchhiking is not just about getting from point A to B but also about embracing joy along the journey. Even political figures like Benjamin Disraeli couldn't escape caricature artists' wit as he finds himself "thumbing" his way through satirical illustrations. This serves as a reminder that hitchhiking transcends social boundaries and can be seen even within political discourse. In September 1970 on an open motorway road lies another scene - a young couple accompanied by their loyal dog attempting to catch a lift. Their determination showcases how thumbing became ingrained in popular culture during this era when people sought unconventional means of travel. Travelers along England's A3 highway experienced firsthand what it meant to be "thumbed" every hundred yards or so. The shared experience created unexpected connections between strangers who found themselves united by their desire for adventure or simply reaching their destination faster. As New Year approaches, imagine receiving greetings shaped like jars – symbolic containers filled with hope and new beginnings.