Fortunately, the thousand items gathered here have survived in remarkable condition, some by chance, others by having been pasted down into contemporary scrapbooks. They combine to celebrate a time when Britain ruled an Empire 'on which the sun never sets'. When thoughts of Victorian times initially conjure up cloudy sepia photographs, it is extraordinary to think that such brilliant, colorful images survive today. These now rare images, painstakingly gathered over 30 years by Robert Opie, are collated and illustrated together for the first time to capture the essence of this pivotal era. This large-format visual reference is not just a resource for designers and social historians, it demonstrates the amazing comparisons of Victorian Britain with life today.