We've shown you some strange photos of intelligent animals before, but now it's time to share more vintage oddness. These images — some over a hundred years old — are evidence that humans never tire of dressing their pets up in cute and/or weird ways.
The Brighton Cats, carte de visite cards by the British portrait photographer Harry Pointer, 1870s
(via Wikimedia Commons)
The Victorian Gentleman Dog
(via vintag.es)
The original LOLcat from 1900
(via Uproxx)
Bud, the first dog across America, 1903
The physician Horatio Nelson Jackson and his friend Sewall K. Crocker were the first people to drive an automobile across America. It took sixty-three days to drive from San Francisco to New York City. Somewhere in Ohio they obtained a Pit Bull named Bud.
(via IMCDB and Hemmings Daily)
Tommy Atkins, c. 1905
(via Library of Congress)
Old Heidelberg, c. 1905
(via Library of Congress)
An old sea dog, c. 1905
(via Library of Congress)
The Missis, c. 1905
(via Library of Congress)
Group of photos by Harry Whittier Frees, 1914
(via Library of Congress)
Collie's Special Delivery, dog on a toy wagon loaded with Uneeda biscuit cartons, c. 1916
(via Library of Congress)
A German Army dog from the First World War wearing a hat and glasses and carrying a pair of binoculars, 1916
(Photo by Henry Guttmann/Getty Images)
A Boston terrier named Sergeant Stubby, America's first war dog, who participated in seventeen battles on the Western Front during WWI.
He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and even once caught a German spy by the seat of his pants, holding him there until American soldiers found him, according to Wikipedia.
(via Wikimedia Commons)
Smoking dog, 1923
(via Library of Congress)
Pep, the dog who was sentenced to life in prison in 1924
"Pep, The Cat-Murdering Dog was a black Labrador Retriever admitted to Eastern State Penitentiary on August 12, 1924. Prison folklore tells us that Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot used his executive powers to sentence Pep to Life Without Parole for killing his wife's cherished cat. Prison records support this story: Pep's inmate number (C-2559) is skipped in prison intake logs and inmate records. The Governor told a different story. He said Pep had been sent to Eastern to act as a mascot for the prisoners. He and the Warden, Herbert "Hard-Boiled" Smith, were friends. Pep was much loved, and lived among the inmates at Eastern State for about a decade. While the truth may never be known, in photographs Pep – with his head down and ears back – looks GUILTY" – according to the former American prison's own homepage.
(via Eastern State Penitentiary)
Smoking, 1926
(via janwillemsen)
A cat wearing headphones to listen a radio, 1926
(Photo by Monty Fresco/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Dog winner in L.A., photo by Leslie Jones, 1920s
(via Boston Public Library)
Pete, the performing Staffordshire Bull terrier, in costume for his next role, 1927
(Photo by J. Eldee Hester/General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)
Dog responds to every alarm, photo by Leslie Jones, 1928
(via Boston Public Library)
A dog listening to the radio with earphones, whilst smoking a pipe, 1929
(Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
A new breed of chauffeur takes the wheel, 1930
(Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
A little girl hangs three Siamese kittens on a washing line in a garden in Croydon, London, 1931
(Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Dogs are posing in a Graflex B Series camera, photo by Leslie Jones, 1932
(via Boston Public Library)
A dog chariot from the 1930s
(via Europeana)
A cat and a bulldog in a toy car, 1933
(Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
A cat hangs a row of tame rats on the washing line to dry, 1933
(Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
Dog playing the piano, photo by Leslie Jones, between 1934 and 1956
(via Boston Public Library)
Bulldog with hat, photo by Leslie Jones, between 1934 and 1956
(via Boston Public Library)
A bulldog wearing a guardsman's hat with a horsehair plume at the Hanham Abbots Kennels in Gloucestershire, 16th February 1935.
(Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Two bulldogs from Major Gamble's kennels at Effingham, Surrey. 'Cracker Jack' dressed as a 'gent' in a topper looks happy enough but his partner 'Jillett' dressed as an old lady looks miserable, 1935.
(Photo by Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Gangster dog in bowler hat, 1939
(Photo by Leslie Jones, via Boston Public Library)
A Dalmatian dressed up like a firefighter, photo by Leslie Jones, 1940s
(via Boston Public Library)
A dog in cap and glasses, with his paws on the bonnet of a car on which rests a bottle of beer, c. 1950
(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
A boxer dog called Jefferson modelling a head scarf and glasses for an intellectual look, 1950
(Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)