The Bettmann Archives

The bettmann Archives contains millions of images. But the value of the Archive doesn't lie in the quantity of its images, but in their quality. The stories they tell, the lessons they teach, and the feelings they inspire are timeless. Many of the negatives and prints in the Archive are over one hundred years old. Corbis continues to invest in preserving all of the priceless images in the Archive for future generations.

The Bettmann Archives poster (designed by Segura Inc for Corbis) features an almost endless collection of classic and old cars from every century. This poster was part of a very limited and rare catalog called Crop 5 done for Corbis in 2005. Below are just a few of the images featured on the poster. Copyright by Corbis. DO NOT COPY!

The Bettmann Archives offers a wide range of imagery within five basic categories:

WORLD EVENTS.
From the tragedy of the Hindenberg explosion to the courage of Rosa Parks and from the daring of the Wright Brothers to the electricity of Marilyn Monroe, many of the most famous editorial shots in history are part of the Bettmann Archive. This includes shots by top photographers from United Press International, International News Photos, Acme Newspictures, Pacific and Atlantic, the New York Daily Mirror, and Underwood & Underwood. It also includes Pulitzer-Prize-winning photography, from the poignant to the inspiring.

PERSONALITIES.
Candid photography, film stills, and studio portraits of sports figures, leaders of industry, and iconic celebrities from the silent film era through the 1980s.

LIFESTYLES.
Depictions of everyday life through the decades, from family life and children to cars and the workplace.

ADVERTISING ART.
Illustrations and photographs—often humorous—created to sell a wide range of 20th century products and services.

ART AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
Engravings, illustrations, and art reproductions dating as far back as prehistoric cave paintings.

(source: Corbis)