Paper Gallery

'Code and Cypher Officer', c1943. Creator: Cecil Beaton

'Code and Cypher Officer', c1943. The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as 'WAAFs', was the female auxiliary of the British Royal Air Force during World War II. Its members did not serve as aircrew, but although they did not participate in active combat, they were exposed to the same dangers as any on the home front working at military installations. Among their duties were: crewing of barrage balloons, catering, meteorology, radar, aircraft maintenance, transport, communications duties including wireless telephonic and telegraphic operation. At its peak strength, in 1943, the number of WAAFs (members of the force) exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week. From "Wings On Her Shoulders", by Katharine Bentley Beauman, Late Fight Officer W.A.A.F. [Hutchinson & Co Ltd, London, New York, Melbourne, c1943]

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The world's earliest surviving printed book: a wood-block printed version of the Diamond Sutra

The world's earliest surviving printed book: a wood-block printed version of the Diamond Sutra. The sutra consists of individual sheets of printed text and a frontispiece illustrating the Buddha surrounded by acolytes and disciples. Country of Origin: China. Culture: Tang dynasty, Date: 868 AD, Place of Origin: Dunhuang Buddhist cave temples. Size: Length of scroll / 5m. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/ British Library, London . Location: 10.

© Werner Forman Archive / Heritage-Images

'Paper Hangings', 1893. Artist: Robert Dudley

'Paper Hangings', 1893. Gifts presented to Alexandra of Denmark on the occasion of her marriage to the future Edward VII. Edward VII (1841-1910), married Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925) at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, 10th March, 1863. From A Memorial of the Marriage of H.R.H. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and H.R.H. Alexandra, Princess of Denmark, by W. H Russell. [Day and Son, London, 1863]

© The Print Collector