On this day in 1918, the first Cottingley Fairies photograph, an image purportedly showing a young girl interacting with winged, fairy-like beings, was circulated beyond its small Yorkshire community. Initially shared among acquaintances, the image began reaching spiritualist groups in Britain, eventually catching the attention of leading figures who believed it offered evidence of unseen natural forces. Although intended by the children as an elaborate prank, the photo ignited one of the most unusual public debates of the 20th century.
The images gained widespread attention after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published them in a 1920 article defending their authenticity. At a time when grief from World War I fueled interest in spiritualism, the photographs became symbols of hope, innocence, and the possibility of hidden realms. Skeptics, however, pointed to the static poses, cutout shapes, and lack of motion blur as indications of fabrication.
Decades later, the girls admitted the photographs were staged using paper illustrations, though one of them maintained that a final photograph was genuine. The Cottingley Fairies phenomenon endures as a cultural study in belief, hope, and the early power of photographic deception.
Sources & Further Reading:
– British Library Photographic Archives
– The Strand Magazine (1920 issues)
– National Media Museum, Bradford
(One of many On-This-Day stories brought to you by Headcount Coffee — where history meets the morning cup.)
