The historical collection is a visual record of the world from the turn of the century up to the late 60s with special emphasis on American history and politics. There is a wealth of diverse and sometimes unique footage which is ideal for documentary and factual projects.

This collection provides our clients with compelling imagery which captures some of the last century’s defining social and political events as well as historical personalities like Princess Margaret and Mussolini, Dali and Evita, General Patton and Gandhi. Popes and pop stars, tyrants and terrorists, movie stars and hippies….

We focus on providing the most unique and distinctive footage at the highest possible quality.

We have been building up a collection of travelogues and world locations from the 20s to the late 60s with special attention on India and China. Some gems include a tiger hunt in Bengal in the 1920s, St Raphael on the French Riviera in 1968 and life in Jamaica in the 30s. The collection is made up of both professionally shot and amateur footage in colour and BW.

We are particularly proud of our fantastic British and American social history collection that features lifestyles, domestic appliances, transport, holidays, food and drink and fashion – often in glorious Technicolor. Check out CF/VM/436.1 for lovely colour footage of Southsea funfairs in the 1950s or CF/VM/19.1 for some wonderful examples of 50s Americana.

Special attention needs to be given to the fabulous Mountbatten Collection. This is a rare collection of amateur films shot by a member of the aristocratic Mountbatten family during the 1920s and 30s. The films follows them on a world trip through Stalinist Russia, Nazi-controlled Germany and includes stunning footage of a Jewish market in pre-WW2 Warsaw. But the films also feature the lighter side of life with the family taking tea on the lawn with friends such as Douglas Fairbanks Jnr and Barbara Cartland and holidays in Cannes and St Moritz. Take a look at MB#3 for actress Vivien Leigh relaxing in the garden, MB#4 to see the Mountbatten’s visiting their friend, Charlie Chaplin, in Hollywood or MB#2 for the Duke of York attending a grouse shoot.

We are particularly well-known for our awesome collection of aviation footage which encompasses both domestic and military aircraft and covers the early days of flight right up to the Stealth Bomber.

A new addition to our historical material is rare colour film of the Spanish Civil War shot by a Nationalist sympathiser.