Welcome toThe Rothschild Archive'swebsite

Sources for business history: plans of New Court

Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901

Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905

Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910

Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920

Sources for business history: index cards to bank files

Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s

Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon

Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s

Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909

Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900

Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893

Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858

Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904

Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899

Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927

Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965

Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930

Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s

Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s

Drawings & engravings

Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934) began to collect engravings at the early age of nine. He studied them with such passion, that even when he was nearly blind he could describe in detail any one of them. During his lifetime he collected 40,000 engravings and 6,000 drawings. Edmond took the advice of noted specialists. Above all he collected German art.

He acquired all Durer's engravings, and included in his collection works by lesser known masters such as Schongauer and Israel van Meckenem. In collecting engravings, Edmond not only broke with the family tradition of collecting paintings, but he perceived their artistic importance before they were considered valuable. He was no doubt instrumental in making them the sought-after collectables they became at the turn of the century. At his death at the age of 89 in 1936, Edmond bequeathed his collection to the Louvre, having come to be recognised as a specialist with his election to the Académie des Beaux Arts.

Edmond's niece, (Charlotte) Beatrice (1864-1934), loved pastels and drawings from the 18th century, and put together a rare collection of preparatory studies and fantastic subjects in pen and ink and pencil by Fragonard. Many of these were on scraps of paper which she arranged in albums.

Lion by Albrecht Durer (The Edmond de Rothschild Collection) Musee de Louvre.

Lion by Albrecht Durer (The Edmond de Rothschild Collection) Musee de Louvre.