The beach at the St Lucia estuary is constantly engraved by strong winds, seen here blowing sand around the ankles of a visitor, St Lucia, Kwa_Zulu Natal, South Africa

Paul Revere (1735-1818) American patriot and silversmith,Bringing News to Sullivan, Engraved by F.H. Wellington, published 1886

Chinese script engraved on rocks, Fresco beside Jiuqu River of Mount Wuyi, Wuyishan City, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China

Oliver Twist causing a sensation in the childrens ward of the workhouse by asking for a second helping of porridge. In the background starving companions polish their bowls and spoons in their hunger., From the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (London, 1837-38), George Cruikshank, (1792-1878/Br

One of the last climbing chimney sweeps carrying a mattock for scraping the inside of chimneys, a brush to sweep the loose soot, and sacks for bagging up soot., Engraving from London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew (London, 1861)

Pierre-Alexander Darracq (1855-1931), French automobile manufacturer., One of the first to plan mass production of motor vehicles. In 1904 Darracq was the most successful car manufacturer in the world, producing 1600 vehicles. The Italian branch factory was the origins of Alfa Romeo. Darracq never l

Dante and Virgil at the edge of the abyss from which a foetid smell steamed up: Canto XI. Illustration by Gustave Dore for Dante Inferno, 1863. Wood engraving

Hell: the city of Dis, Roman god of the underworld. Sinners burning in Hell 'Their lids suspended; and beneath, / From them forth issued lamentable means' Canto X. Gustave Dore's illustrated Dante Inferno, 1863. Wood engraving

The Revelation of St. John (Apocalypse) The Adoration of the Lamb and the Hymn of the Chosen Albrecht Durer (1471-1528 German) Woodcut, c.1498

Horned Viper (Cerastes Cornutus) Dictionnaire D'Histoire Naturelle by Charles Orbigny 1849 Artist Unknown Engraving-Hand Color

William III (1650-1702), King of Great Britain, The Protestant William at the Battle of the Boyne, Ireland where he defeated supporters of the deposed Roman Catholic James II, John Leech, (1817-1864 British) , Hand-coloured wood engraving

Normal method of applying petard (explosive device) to gate of fortress. The fuse has just been lit and the Fusilier is retreating quickly in order not to be 'hoist with his own petard'. Stipple engraving c1800

David Livingstone (1813-1873) saved from a lion by Mebalwe, a native school master, From Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa David Livingstone (London 1857), Engraving,

Nilometer, remains of ancient device for measuring annual inundation of the Nile. Annual flooding vitally important to Egypt as it governed fertility of soil and could mean difference between abundance and starvation. Engraving c1885

Direct person-to-person blood transfusion at the wrist. After engraving from George Abraham Mercklino Tractatio med. Curiosa de murto et occasu transfusionis sanguinis Nuremberg., 1679, Engraving

Landing of Captain Cook at Middleburgh, one of the Friendly Isles, From Captain Cook's Original Voyages Round the World (Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1814, Engraving

Fire of London - 1666. Old St Paul's, destroyed in the fire, seen from the south bank of the Thames. Refugees from the flames cluster in boats, 19th Century, Engraving

Young girl tending the fire holes of a brick kiln. It was estimated that at this time there were between 20,000 & 30,000 children from 5 to 16 at work in British brickyards. Wood engraving 1871

French Religious Wars: Paris during the League (La Ligue). Procession of the League 24 May 1590 leaving Notre Dame, Paris showing typical soldiers and civic guards armed with pikes and arquebuses. Engraving after painting by J Brueghel (Breughel) the Younger

Henry VIII (1491-1547) king of England from 1509 being presented with the first authorised edition of The Bible in English, Cranmer's Bible, 1540, Copperplate engraving 1824

Isaac Newton (1642-1727) English scientist & mathematician. Artist's impression of Newton in the orchard at Woolsthorpe when an apple fell and set him thinking about gravity. Wood engraving c1880

Headstone of Charles Stewart Parnell, Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, Co Dublin, Ireland, founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party

John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, Lollard leader, Condemned as heretic for denying transubstantiation and hung and burnt hanging in St Giles's Fields, London, 1417, Original model for Shakespeare's John Falstaff, 1848, Wood engraving

Black Rat (Rattus rattus), From Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's Library, 1838, William Home Lizars, (1788-1859/Scottish), Hand-colored Engraving

Roman siege towers positioned to give attackers the advantage of height above the city walls, From Poliorceticon sive de machinis tormentis telis by Justus Lipsius (Antwerp, 1605), Engraving