Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Rare photographs from The Independent archive

From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the gay rights movement of the Nineties, lose yourself in some of photography’s finest ‘first drafts of history’

Tizane Navea-Rogers,Amy Smirk
Tuesday 22 November 2022 09:08 EST
Comments
Sir Ian McKellen on the phone at Stonewall offices before the government’s age of consent reform in 1994.
Sir Ian McKellen on the phone at Stonewall offices before the government’s age of consent reform in 1994. (Philip Meech/The Independent)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Independent has a long and proud tradition of championing photojournalism. We are very excited to share this rarely seen collection, which showcases the storytelling power of photography.

From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the gay rights movement of the Nineties, lose yourself in some of photography’s finest “first drafts of history”.

For any enquiries regarding the images featured here please contact esilibrary@esimedia.co.uk.

Fall of the Berlin Wall: People celebrating ‘opening day’, when East German officials opened the wall, allowing travel from East to West Berlin.
Fall of the Berlin Wall: People celebrating ‘opening day’, when East German officials opened the wall, allowing travel from East to West Berlin. (Brian Harris/The Independent)
Lovers embrace near the Jewish cemetery in Prague after the fall of the Czech government in 1989.
Lovers embrace near the Jewish cemetery in Prague after the fall of the Czech government in 1989. (Brian Harris/The Independent)
Billy Connolly drinks a cup of ‘tickety-boo’ tea on board a square-rigged ship named The Grand Turk. The profits from this tea went to charities aiding people in need, particularly children.
Billy Connolly drinks a cup of ‘tickety-boo’ tea on board a square-rigged ship named The Grand Turk. The profits from this tea went to charities aiding people in need, particularly children. (Mark Chilvers/The Independent)
Whitney Houston performing for the I’m Your Baby Tonight World Tour, 1991.
Whitney Houston performing for the I’m Your Baby Tonight World Tour, 1991. (Tom Pilston/The Independent)
Ian Wright and Paul Gascoigne in Izmir, Turkey, for a World Cup qualifying match in 1992. England won 4-0 against Turkey.
Ian Wright and Paul Gascoigne in Izmir, Turkey, for a World Cup qualifying match in 1992. England won 4-0 against Turkey. (David Ashdown/The Independent)
Man tinkers under bonnet of London bus in depot, date unknown.
Man tinkers under bonnet of London bus in depot, date unknown. (Tom Pilston/The Independent)
Boy smiling in Cynon Valley, a former coal mining valley in Wales.
Boy smiling in Cynon Valley, a former coal mining valley in Wales. (Brian Harris/The Independent)
Passengers boarding a 10am train at Paddington Station do a double take on seeing Mikhail Gorbachev on board. He was on his way to Bristol.
Passengers boarding a 10am train at Paddington Station do a double take on seeing Mikhail Gorbachev on board. He was on his way to Bristol. (Tom Pilston/The Independent)
Dame Judi Dench in costume in her dressing room at the National Theatre, 1994. Dench was starring in the role of Arkadina in a production of Chekhov’s ‘The Seagull’.
Dame Judi Dench in costume in her dressing room at the National Theatre, 1994. Dench was starring in the role of Arkadina in a production of Chekhov’s ‘The Seagull’. (Philip Meech/The Independent)
Italy, 1994.
Italy, 1994. (Brian Harris/The Independent)
David Bowie at a press conference for Sound + Vision at the Rainbow Theatre, 1990.
David Bowie at a press conference for Sound + Vision at the Rainbow Theatre, 1990. (Brian Harris/The Independent)
Bon Jovi performing in 1994.
Bon Jovi performing in 1994. (Kalpesh Lathigra/The Independent)
Man listening to a Walkman on the London Underground, 1993. The Walkman was at the height of its popularity between 1987 and 1997.
Man listening to a Walkman on the London Underground, 1993. The Walkman was at the height of its popularity between 1987 and 1997. (John Voos/The Independent)
Gary Lineker tackles John Jensen during the England v Denmark match at Wembley stadium, 1992.
Gary Lineker tackles John Jensen during the England v Denmark match at Wembley stadium, 1992. (David Ashdown/The Independent)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in