Desktop Background Images - Antique Colour Prints

The images on this page are all derived from antique colour prints. Click here to get to the top of this set of background image pages.

Some notes are probably in order:

1. Except as noted, none of the images are distorted (i.e. if your pixels are square then you're seeing the image in the correct aspect ratio).
2. The maps and antique prints are old enough that any copyrights have expired.
3. The images related to my Grandfather's store are of documents which are recent enough to still have copyrights associated with them although I doubt (but don't guarantee) that anyone is likely to try to assert the copyrights.
4. The 1280x1024 images aren't quite the same as the other sizes due to the obvious fact that 1280x1024 is a 5x4 aspect ratio whereas the others are 4x3.
5. The IBM mainframe related images might be Copyright © IBM Corporation although I can't find any copyright notice on the reference cards.

If you use any of these images for commercial purposes or display them on your WWW site, please include a reference back to http://www.bouletfermat.com/backgrounds/ (using the IBM mainframe related images for commercial purposes is probably inappropriate without written permission from IBM).

Speaking of my Grandfather's store, I'm looking for photos, drawings, maps, paintings or any other documentation dealing with Dumas, Saskatchewan, Canada. Please contact me if you've got anything (danny@BouletFermat.com). I suppose that I should add that Dumas had less than 100 people living in it at its peak and, although there's a sign on the highway and a couple of houses left, Dumas doesn't really exist anymore.

Here's an 800x600 clipping from an 1896 print titled Moy's Ariel Steamer. This flying machine was built and an attempt was made to fly it at the Crystal Palace near London in June of 1875. As implied by the name, the machine was powered by a steam engine. A speed of 35 miles per hour was estimated to be necessary to get it off the ground. Unfortunately, the actual top speed attained was only around 12 MPH. More information about this aeroplane can be found here. The 1024x768 version is here. The 1280x1024 version is here. The 1600x1200 version is here.

Here's an 800x600 image of an early steam locomotive called the Novelty clipped from an 1896 print. The Novelty was the first locomotive with a cranked axle. It was built in 1830 by John Braithwaite. The entire original print can be found here. The 1024x768 version is here. The 1280x1024 version is here. The 1600x1200 version is here.

Here's an 800x600 image of the Rocket taken from the same 1896 print as the Novelty clipping above. Built in 1829 by George Stevenson, the Rocket is generally considered to be the world's first steam locomotive. The entire original print can be found here. This set of Rocket images is a composite of two parts of the original print. The 1024x768 version is here. The 1280x1024 version is here. The 1600x1200 version is here.