Historical images - Images that made history

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Ice road that resupplied Leningrad, 1942.
 
Today marks V-J Day wherein the United States achieved unconditional surrender from the Empire of Japan and formally bringing World War 2 to an end.

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One of the most famous images from V-J Day.

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General Douglas MacArthur aboard the USS Missouri formally signing and accepting Japan's unconditional surrender.

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Japanese foreign minister Mamoru Shingemitsu signing the documents of surrender on behalf of the government of the Empire of Japan, also aboard the USS Missouri.

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And this is the flag flown on the ship commanded by Commodore Matthew C. Perry during his expeditions to Japan in 1852 and 1854, it was effectively the beginning of relations between Japan and the United States while also threatening to kick their asses if Japan didn't formally begin a trade relationship with the US in what became known as "gunship diplomacy". The flag was chosen to be displayed aboard the USS Missouri during the official surrender of Japan in 1945, likely to rub their noses in it a little after 4 years of fierce conflict with the island nation.
 
Interesting sidenote: the table used for the ceremony was actually just a standard cafeteria table from the mess hall.

The British had provided MacArthur a mahogany table for the occasion, but, at the last second when they set out the surrender documents, their oversized nature meant they wouldn't fit it. So they had to go find a table large enough, in a hurry, and that was the only one they could scrounge up, a decorative tablecloth from the Officers' mess was thrown over it to hide the fact it was an enlisted mans' table (dinged up and having names carved on the top in moments of boredom), so as not to offend the seriousness of the situation.

After the proceedings, it was taken back to the mess before anyone even thought that it should be preserved as it now was a historical artifact, so they rushed back to grab it and apparently annoyed a few sailors just sitting down for breakfast by taking "their" table... I forget who has it now, but it is part of a museum collection.
 
Interesting sidenote: the table used for the ceremony was actually just a standard cafeteria table from the mess hall.

The British had provided MacArthur a mahogany table for the occasion, but, at the last second when they set out the surrender documents, their oversized nature meant they wouldn't fit it. So they had to go find a table large enough, in a hurry, and that was the only one they could scrounge up, a decorative tablecloth from the Officers' mess was thrown over it to hide the fact it was an enlisted mans' table (dinged up and having names carved on the top in moments of boredom), so as not to offend the seriousness of the situation.

After the proceedings, it was taken back to the mess before anyone even thought that it should be preserved as it now was a historical artifact, so they rushed back to grab it and apparently annoyed a few sailors just sitting down for breakfast by taking "their" table... I forget who has it now, but it is part of a museum collection.
Given how much the average Marine hated the Japanese, I doubt if anyone of them would complain about this.
 
The first people ever photographed taken in 1838 in Paris. It shows a man getting his shoes shined by another man. Because exposer was so long they were the only people who showed up.

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A now censored picture of the Mansu Hill Grand Monument in 2012.
Kim Jong-Il had been wrongly portrayed with a business coat instead of his signature parka, and North Korean authorities rushed to cover the mistake. Rumor has it that the people who committed the mistake got executed.

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The last known photo to exist of President Abraham Lincoln as he laid in his coffin in Springfield, Illinois and his body was guarded by the two military officers there. It was believed that all photos taken of the funeral were destroyed under orders from Secretary of War Edward M. Stanton, this photo was sent to Stanton but for some reason he kept the image and it was preserved by his son after his father's death. It was discovered in 1952 in Springfield among some letters.

It was said that Lincoln was so well embalmed that when his body was exhumed in 1901 that he still looked completely recognizable and it was almost haunting to see him, you could see the slight bruising around his head where he'd been shot. The last man to see Lincoln's body passed away in 1963 at the age of 75, he was 13 when Lincoln was exhumed and reburied for the final time.

Edit: Put up a slightly different version, I thought this one looked a bit better and a little more cleaned up.
 

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Palazzo Braschi on 1934 in Rome, Italy. Headquarters for the Fascist Party.

"Si" means "yes" in Italian. This is referring to the 1934 general election which was a yes-no vote. The election would approve or reject a single-party list, which was composed of only members from the Fascist Party, to take up the entire Chamber of Deputies. The election result was 99.84% voting for yes. This would only be the second and last election held under Fascist Rule. In 1939, the Chamber of Deputies was replaced by the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations, whose members were all appointed by the Fascist Party.
 
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Ted Bundy (in the yellow turtleneck) in a police lineup where he was selected by a victim who escaped his abduction
 
Peter Lorre and his first wife Celia Lovsky after getting married, c.1934. He was filming The Man Who Knew Too Much and only hard a short break from set to do so, which is why he's in full costume.
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I just think this guy is neat.
 
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In the early 1890s Carl Stormer invented one of the first secret cameras. He went around town taking pictures of citizens. These pictures are unique as it shows what daily life was actually like back then. Most photos were staged with people in poses and not smiling. These photos show them smiling and going about their daily lives.

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Here's a couple of sites with his pictures. I think there are many than these sites shared and you can find them on Google. Just search his name.


 
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A now censored picture of the Mansu Hill Grand Monument in 2012.
Kim Jong-Il had been wrongly portrayed with a business coat instead of his signature parka, and North Korean authorities rushed to cover the mistake. Rumor has it that the people who committed the mistake got executed.

Fun fact: Kim Il Sung's statue also received an update some time after Kim Jong Il's death. This is what it originally looked like:
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And here's what it looks like now:
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One more thing: this massive bronze statue was originally covered in gold leaf, but it was removed after the Norks showed it to a visiting Chinese diplomat and he said "I really hope this isn't what you're spending our aid money on."
 
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