Tophat Collection

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Standing Before the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern, 1857, printed 1863-64

Men in evening wear from the 1920s.. Men in evening wear from the 1920s, in tuxedo, spats, bow-tie, top hat and canes. Chromolithograph from a catalog of male winter fashions from Bruner Woolens, 1920

His Girl, The Huntsmans Meet. Creator: Victor Venner
His Girl, The Huntsmans Meet

Thistle flower fairy, Carduus nutans.. Handcolored steel engraving by C. Geoffrois after an illustration by Jean Ignace Isidore Grandville from Les Fleurs Animees, Flower Fairies, Paris

Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Churchill, 23 February 1940, (1945). Creator: Unknown
Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Churchill, 23 February 1940, (1945). Winston Churchill (1874-1965) and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940)

The Earl of Zetland, 1879. Creator: Vincent Brooks Day & Son
The Earl of Zetland, 1879. Lawrence Dundas, 1st Marquess of Zetland (1844-1929), politician and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. From The Sporting Gazette and Agricultural Journal, 19th April 1879

Alexander Rutherford, William Ramsay, and John Liston, Newhaven, 1843 / 47, printed c. 1916
Alexander Rutherford, William Ramsay, and John Liston, Newhaven, 1843/47, printed c. 1916. [Scottish fishermen]. Carbon print

Trial Trip on the Underground Railway, 1863, (c1876). Creator: Unknown
Trial Trip on the Underground Railway, 1863, (c1876). Work on the worlds first underground railway started in 1860, by the Metropolitan Railway under chief engineer John Fowler

James Cobbett, c1830s. Creator: Unknown
James Cobbett, c1830s. Portrait of English cricketer James Cobbett, (1804-1842), one of the best all round players of his time

Deficiency. - Surplus. 1836. Creator: John Doyle
Deficiency. - Surplus. 1836. Satirical caricature of British politicians Thomas Spring Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon (1790-1866), Chancellor of the Exchequer, and James Pattison (1786-1849)

Widow and young man taking coffee in a restaurant talking to a stone mason
FLO4691319 Widow and young man taking coffee in a restaurant talking to a stone mason. She says, And don't forgot in large letters, A good father, fine spouse, he leaves an inconsolable widow

Lady in an art gallery stepping on a gentleman's foot. He says, It's nothing, ma'am
FLO4691365 Lady in an art gallery stepping on a gentleman's foot. He says, It's nothing, ma'am. He thinks, Right on my corn

Sketches from New York: entertainment in a lager beer saloon, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Sketches from New York: entertainment in a lager beer saloon, 1864. 'Lager beer proper is composed of malt, hops, and water...It is lighter than the beer of England

Election Day in New York: a polling-place among the "Upper Ten", 1864. Creator: Unknown
Election Day in New York: a polling-place among the "Upper Ten", 1864. Crowds at a polling station on 8 November, '...the day of the Presidential election

Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Sweden: the royal party viewing Stockholm..., 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Sweden: the royal party viewing Stockholm from the pavilion in the Mosebacke Garden - from a sketch by our special artist, 1864

Reception-room of the Social Science Congress in the Guildhall, New York, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
Reception-room of the Social Science Congress in the Guildhall, New York, 1864. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.

The Charing-Cross Railway: covered way leading to the platform, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The Charing-Cross Railway: covered way leading to the platform, 1864. 'In no part of London has a greater improvement been made than upon the spot where Hungerford Market once stood

Presidential electioneering in New York: torchlight procession of the M'Clellan party, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Presidential electioneering in New York: torchlight procession of the M'Clellan party, 1864. Engraving of a sketch by Mr. C. D. Shanly

Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Denmark: Kongens-Nytorf, at Copenhagen, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Denmark: scene in the square of Kongens-Nytorf, at Copenhagen, 1864. 'The townspeople of Copenhagen were gratified with a sight of his Royal Highness

Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Denmark: arrival at the Castle of Bernstorf, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Denmark: arrival at the Castle of Bernstorf, 1864. The future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in Scandinavia

Cutting the first turf of the Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Cutting the first turf of the Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway, 1864. The railway '...will not only afford great accommodation to...travellers

Floral jubilee...in honour of the Dumfries and Galloway Horticultural Society...1862. Creator: Unknown
Floral jubilee recently held in honour of the Dumfries and Galloway Horticultural Society's fiftieth anniversary, 1862

The promenade on the Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, 1864. Creator: W Thomas
The promenade on the Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, 1864. 'We present a view of that famous promenade at Tunbridge Wells called "The Pantiles," from the materials with which it is paved

Glynn & Whitman, 1/1/15, 1915. Creator: Bain News Service. Glynn & Whitman, 1/1/15, 1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Glynn & Whitman, 1/1/15, 1915. Shows Governor Charles Seymour Whitman (1868-1947) in a coach with his predecessor Martin Henry Glynn (1871-1924), at Whitman's inauguration, Albany, New York

Paderewski, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
Paderewski, between c1915 and c1920. Shows Polish pianist and composer Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) seated at an outdoor table.

"Face to Face": Effie Blount's Explanation, 1862. Creator: Unknown
"Face to Face": Effie Blount's Explanation, 1862. Illustration to a short story by John Saunderss. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.

The election of Mr. Horatio Seymour, Governor of the State of New York…, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The election of Mr. Horatio Seymour, Governor of the State of New York: Democratic procession passing the New York Hotel, 1862

A "Block" in Park-lane, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson. A "Block" in Park-lane, 1864
A "Block" in Park-lane, [London], 1864. Traffic congestion: 'Just about the corner of Brick-street, which is close to Holdernesse House, may be witnessed, at certain hours daily

Lord Palmerston making the ministerial statement on Dano-German Affairs..., 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
Lord Palmerston making the ministerial statement on Dano-German Affairs in the House of Commons on Monday, 1864. 'Every seat in the body of the house, and the very steps in each gangway

A Pictorial: the Second Syllable, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
A Pictorial: the Second Syllable, 1864. Christmas entertainment. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.

The War in America: recruiting in New York: the Irish Zouaves, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The War in America: recruiting in New York: the Irish Zouaves, 1862. Scene at a recruiting-office at Mozart Hall, Broadway

Kerbstone stockbrokers in New York, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
Kerbstone stockbrokers in New York, 1864. 'The prevailing mania just now in the city of New York is that of gambling in stocks...William-street is the great theatre of speculation...[with]

Joffre, Sharp, Pershing, Paris, July 4, 1917, 4 Jul 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Joffre, Sharp, Pershing, Paris, July 4, 1917, 4 Jul 1917 (date created or published later). French general Joseph Jacques Ce´saire Joffre (1852-1931), U.S

Exhibition of the Lincoln School of Art, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Exhibition of the Lincoln School of Art, 1864. '...the interior of the large room...occupied by the first public exhibition of paintings

A Pictorial: the Word, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
A Pictorial: the Word, 1864. Christmas entertainment. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.

Electro-ballistic apparatus for measuring the speed of cannon-shot, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Electro-ballistic apparatus for measuring the speed of cannon-shot, 1864. Apparatus invented by Major Navez, of the Belgian Artillery

Opening of the new pier at Deal, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Opening of the new pier at Deal, [in Kent], 1864. 'There was a great concourse of spectators...to witness this ceremony, which was performed by Mrs

Opening of Southwark Bridge toll free, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
Opening of Southwark Bridge toll free, 1864. Southwark Bridge over the River Thames in London links Southwark and the City

Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Sweden: departure from Gottenborg Railway Station, 1864 Creator: Unknown
Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Sweden: departure from Gottenborg Railway Station - from a sketch by our special artist, 1864

The opening of the People's Park, Farnworth, near Bolton, Lancashire, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The opening of the People's Park, Farnworth, near Bolton, Lancashire, 1864. Chancellor of the Exchequer and future prime minister William Ewart Gladstone speaking to the crowd

Distribution of prizes at the Crystal Palace to the London Rifle Brigade on Saturday last, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Distribution of prizes at the Crystal Palace to the London Rifle Brigade on Saturday last, 1864. Prize-giving '...in the central transept of the Crystal Palace [in Sydenham]

Laying the Foundation-Stone of the Fettes College, Edinburgh, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Laying the Foundation-Stone of the Fettes College, Edinburgh, 1864. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. M'Craw. 'A hundred boys at least will be taught in the school, fifty of them boarders

The Horse Show at Islington: trying the hunters, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The Horse Show at Islington [in London]: trying the hunters, 1864. View of '...the Trial of Hunters jumping over a framework of hurdles covered with furze-bushes to represent a hedge

The Schleswig-Holstein Difficulty:...proclaiming Prince Frederick...Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, 1864 Creator: Unknown
The Schleswig-Holstein Difficulty: the Burghers of Altona proclaiming Prince Frederick of Augustenburg Duke of Schleswig-Holstein from the balcony of the railway station, 1864

The Schleswig-Holstein Difficulty: great meeting in favour of Prince Frederick..., 1864. Creator: Unknown
The Schleswig-Holstein Difficulty: great meeting in favour of Prince Frederick at Elmshorn, Holstein, 1864. '...the great open-air meeting...was a scene of the greatest enthusiasm...there were

The Schleswig-Holstein Difficulty: triumphal entry of Prince Frederick..., Holstein, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The Schleswig-Holstein Difficulty: triumphal entry of Prince Frederick of Augustenburg into Kiel, Holstein, 1864. 'The news of...[the Prince's] arrival spread like wildfire through the town

The Dramatic College Fete at the Crystal Palace, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The Royal Dramatic College Fete at the Crystal Palace, [London], 1864. Annual fund-raising festival. '...the central portion of the nave and transepts was filled with the stalls of a fancy fair

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Step into a world of elegance and charm with the timeless accessory - the tophat. From Isambard Kingdom Brunel's iconic pose before the launching chains of the Great Eastern, to men in dapper evening wear from the 1920s, this headpiece has stood as a symbol of sophistication throughout history. Alexander Rutherford, William Ramsay, and John Liston donned their tophats in Newhaven during 1843-47, captured beautifully by an artist in 1916. La Goulue at the Moulin Rouge exuded allure in her feathered hat designed by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec back in 1892 but recreated in 1952. In 'His Girl, ' The Huntsmans Meet depicted a romantic encounter where love blossomed under stylish brims crafted by Victor Venner. Even fairies embraced this fashion trend as seen with Thistle flower fairy Carduus nutans adding enchantment to gardens. The Earl of Zetland radiated nobility wearing his distinguished tophat immortalized by Vincent Brooks Day & Son in 1879. Witnessing history unfold, we find ourselves on a trial trip aboard the Underground Railway captured around 1863 but printed later for all to admire its vintage charm. James Cobbett's portrait from the c1830s showcases how even political figures embraced this fashionable headgear that transcended social boundaries. With satirical humor, John Doyle's artwork titled 'Deficiency - Surplus' highlights societal contrasts through contrasting hats. Transporting us further back into time is Buchanan Street portrayed through oil on board painting from 1910 where gentlemen strolled proudly adorned with their beloved top hats amidst bustling city life. From Guns and Roses concerts to historical moments frozen forever within art pieces or photographs, one thing remains constant -the undeniable allure and class embodied by those who choose to don this iconic accessory: The Top Hat.