A beautiful and very masculine English piece of luggage made in the early 1900's. The much larger corners, and more featured straps and fastenings convey the feeling of this being a well travelled, and larger more utilitarian piece. I particularly like the covered lock plate with its various elements, and strap. The leather cover itself has a wonderful shape. The name of the then owner beautifully hand painted along the top. John Basil Jarvis served with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, joined in 1919, and went on to become a Lieutenant-Colonel, even writing a book about his service in the 1960's

A wonderful, more classic Victorian English style of suitcase. The applied corners tacked on with the brass nails. The classic English locks. A hinged leather handle. Brass makers plaque on the top. Notice too the red painted stripe through the middle. Something deemed 'Fashion' today, but this has its roots in personalisation of luggage for hundreds of years.

As I prepare to embark on some traveling around Europe, a look at some beautiful luggage pieces from times past.

A stunning piece of leather work, as we have come to expect from Hermes. Elegant, classic brass hardware. A leather wrapped handle, now with a great patina. The contrast stitch to the light tan hyde. All of which makes for unmistakable, classic Hermes

This small terracota urn is what has become the most contested prize in cricket, and source of much sporting rivalry between England and Australia. 'The Ashes Urn". Although never given to the winning side due to its fragility, and it being deemed to be a gift to Bligh, is the symbol that represents victory in this sporting drama. It is believed to contain either the ashes of either the bail, or the leather casing of the ball used in the 1882 defeat. Yesterday it was safely defended by England for the first time in nearly a quarter of a Century. Well done!

This English tour to Australia, captained by the Hon. Ivo Bligh in 1882/83, set out to undo the 'injustice' of the defeat at the Oval.

“We have come to beard the kangaroo in his den,” Bligh told a dinner audience in Melbourne, “and to try to recover those ashes.”

Arguably, this is where it all began. The usual low key response from English newspapers to the country's sporting loss. This defeat on home soil, at the Kennington Oval, London in 1882 sparked the creation of the 'Ashes' themselves.

The Captain of Shackleton's final Arctic adventure, Ludolf Schjelderup is seen here in 1932 taking in the local wildlife in the White Sea

Endurance's last survivor, Lionel Greenstreet is pictured here on the South Atlantic in 1914

As many of us around the world experience a little cold weather, a nod to those who sought it out

Two legends of modern film, caught by one of the most renowned paparazzi, Ron Galella.

Not many characters bring a more noticeable figure to a casino table than James Bond, and especially Sean Connery. A great scene from Thunderball in 1965.

Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, members of "The Summit", or "The Clan", as they liked to call themselves. Pictured here with Nathalie Wood and Robert Wagner