Mary Evans Picture Library

Mary Evans Picture Library is the UK’s leading historical image library. Our own archive consists of hundreds of thousands of pictures from a vast collection of books, magazines, photographs, prints, maps and ephemera, visualising the world as it has changed over the centuries. Whether you are interested in 1960s fashion photos, portraits of The Royal Family, engravings of dark Victorian streets or art deco designs, you can find it here. In fact, you won’t find a better selection of images of history anywhere in the UK. The library started in 1964 when Mary and Hilary Evans, enthusiastic and prolific collectors, turned their passion for images into a business. They built an incredible source of pictures, a window on the world gone by, and left a rare and valued legacy.