Long has been the tradition of making rubbings from carvings in England and America. It was a way to keep something of the person who passed or simply preserve the beauty of a carving. A piece of paper is placed over the image and charcoal was gently rubbed across the surface to make an image.
The march of time has destroyed many old carvings, but some of the artwork has been preserved in rubbings. This set of 155 individual transparent PNG images is rich in history and has been carefully curated and inspired from a family’s personal collection of rubbed images, most of them done in the middle of the 20th century.
Why Historic Gravestone Rubbings Are a Special Collection
Many of the graves have since been destroyed by time. Others are no longer available for rubbings because they are in bad condition. As a result, this is a special collection that preserves artwork that may otherwise be lost forever.
Most of the images are from New England gravestone carvings, with a few from the Carolinas. The icons are wonderfully quirky folk art, and some are quite beautiful. The images are inspired by the passage of time and remind us to do the best we have with what we have left.
What You Will Find in This Collection
- Hourglasses
- Willow trees
- The tree of knowledge
- Urns
- Angels
- Skulls
- Skull and crossbones
- Skeletons
- Flowers
- Floral decoration
- Carved borders
- Columns
- Celestial images and more
Every element is delivered as a transparent PNG file at 3500 x 3500 pixels and 300 DPI. The images are distressed in ways you would imagine stone rubbings would be distressed. You can see them in detail in the sample images provided.
Bonus Content Included
- 5 bonus metallic stamped images
- Pattern tiles
- Decorated papers
These bonus items expand the creative possibilities of the collection. As a result, you can build complete compositions without sourcing additional assets.
Perfect Uses for These Historical Graphics
- Historical and genealogical projects
- Folk art and mixed media compositions
- Halloween and gothic-themed designs
- Book covers and editorial layouts
- Posters and art prints
- Scrapbooking and journaling
- Branding with a vintage or heritage feel
- Social media graphics and stories
- Textile and surface pattern design
- Creative and experimental projects
Whether you design for clients or create personal projects, these graphics bring history and character to every composition.
Why Transparent PNG Files Matter for Historical Design
Transparent backgrounds let you place elements on any surface without extra editing. You can layer gravestone graphics over photography, textures, or solid colors with ease. As a result, your design process stays fast and flexible.
In addition, the 300 DPI resolution ensures crisp reproduction in both print and digital formats. Consequently, your designs look professional at every size.
How to Use the Gravestone Graphics Collection
Start by selecting the elements that match your project theme. Next, layer them into your composition. Then adjust scale and opacity to integrate the graphics naturally.
Because the files use transparent backgrounds, they stack cleanly without extra cleanup. As a result, you can build rich, historical designs in minutes.
Download the Historic Gravestone Graphics Collection Today
This collection combines 155 transparent PNG images, bonus metallic stamped images, pattern tiles, and decorated papers in one comprehensive download. It gives designers, historians, and artists everything needed to create authentic, historically rich visuals.
Download this historic New England gravestone graphics collection today and bring 18th century folk art, carved detail, and timeless historical beauty to your projects. The font used in the samples is called Arber Free Vintage Font.
