Objects and stories

The National Science and Media Museum is home to over three million items of historical and cultural significance.

Devoted to the science and culture of light and sound, our collection encompasses iconic objects and remarkable archives in the areas of photography, cinematography, television and new media. It includes three pivotal firsts: the world's earliest known surviving negative, the earliest television footage, and the camera that made the earliest moving pictures in Britain.

Discover more below, or search over 250,000 objects in the Science Museum Group Collection.

Photography and photographic technology

Explore more photography and photographic technology in our collection.

The photographic library of the 'Daily Herald' newspaper, 1911-1965 © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about The photographic library of the Daily Herald newspaper, 1911–1965

Replica of Camera used by W H Fox Talbot (replica camera) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Replica of Camera used by W H Fox Talbot

Miniature edition of Mrs Julia Margaret Cameron's 'Photographs From Life', 1869 (photograph album; albumen print) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Miniature edition of Mrs Julia Margaret Cameron's 'Photographs From Life', 1869

Kodak No. 2 Camera, 1889 (box camera) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Kodak No. 2 Camera, 1889

Leica 1 roll film camera in ca (35-mm camera) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Leica 1 roll film camera (35 mm) in case

Walt Disney filming penguins at London Zoo (glass plate negative) The Daily Herald Archive at the National Media Museum, Bradford More information about Walt Disney filming penguins at London Zoo

Eastman Kodak No 1 Brownie box (camera) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Eastman Kodak No 1 Brownie box

Film and cinematography

Explore more cinematography in our collection.

Le Prince Single-lens Cine Camera (cine camera; cinematograph) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Le Prince Single-lens Cine Camera

Lee and Turner Three-Colour Projector (38 mm Lee and Turner colour ciné film projector) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Lee and Turner Three-Colour Projector

Birtac 17.5mm Camera/Projector (cine camera) The Kodak Collection at the National Media Museum, Bradford More information about Birtac 17.5mm Camera/Projector

Technicolor cine camera (cine camera) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Technicolor cine camera

Kineoptoscope Projector Mechanism (kineoptoscope) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Kineoptoscope projector mechanism

Television and radio

Explore more television and radio technology in our collection.

John Logie Baird's test subject 'Stookie Bill' (ventriloquist’s dummy) More information about John Logie Baird's test subject 'Stookie Bill'

Experimental television receiver used by JL Baird in demonstration at Royal Institution, 1926 (television receiver) Baird Television Company. Enquiries to Science Museum, London. More information about Experimental television receiver used by JL Baird in demonstration at Royal Institution, 1926

Ampex videotape recorder, type VR 1000A, serial nu © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Ampex videotape recorder, type VR 1000A, serial nu

Home built 405-line television receiver, 1951-1953 (television receiver) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about home built 405-line television receiver, 1951-1953

'Televisor' (black-and-white television) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about 'Televisor'

BBC Marconi AXBT ribbon microphone, 1944-1959 (microphone) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about BBC Marconi AXBT ribbon microphone, 1944-1959

New media

Explore more computing in our collection.

Apple Macintosh Colour Classic, with dust cover, keyboard and mouse (personal computer) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Apple Macintosh Colour Classic, with dust cover, keyboard and mouse

Sega Mega Drive console (video game console) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Sega Mega Drive console

Sinclair ZX Spectrum microcomputer, 1982-1985 (personal computer) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Sinclair ZX Spectrum microcomputer, 1982-1985

Commodore PET 2001-8-BS personal computer, 1977. (personal computers) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Commodore PET 2001-8-BS personal computer, 1977.

Atari 520 ST personal computer. (personal computer) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Atari 520 ST personal computer.

Nintendo 64 games console with accessories and games, 1996-2003 (games console) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Nintendo 64 games console with accessories and games, 1996-2003

Apple Newton MessagePad, 1993 (PDA) © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum More information about Apple Newton MessagePad, 1993

History of Photography

Explore the development of western photography from 1835 to the 21st century with special selections from our collection

More ways to explore our collection

Delve into thematic sets of photographs on Flickr

Buy prints from the Science & Society Picture Library

Discover hidden treasures in our series of blog posts

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