Description
This is a collection of 706 historic web-button image files from the era when an 88×31 GIF was basically a tiny billboard, browser recommendation, software badge, political statement, download button and personality test all at once.
The collection is overwhelmingly from the classic personal-web aesthetic of the 1990s and early 2000s. It includes browser-war buttons, GeoCities neighborhood graphics, search-engine badges, software download links, shareware-era artwork, gaming buttons, hosting badges, chat and messaging services, media-player buttons, handmade-site badges and a large amount of wonderfully specific internet junk that modern web design successfully exterminated.
What is in the collection
- 706 image files total
- 660 GIF files
- 32 JPG files
- 14 PNG files
- Original filenames preserved
- Animated and static web graphics
- Classic 88×31 buttons plus a small number of related legacy button formats
Recognizable subjects include Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, GeoCities, AltaVista, Angelfire, AOL, ICQ, Yahoo!, Lycos, Winamp, QuickTime, RealPlayer, Java, Flash, Shockwave, Linux, Amiga, Macintosh, Windows, Quake, Doom, Duke Nukem, Tucows, shareware directories, FTP tools, IRC clients, web-authoring software and dozens of long-dead sites and services.
Why this is useful
You can still hunt these down one at a time. That is the free option. Bring coffee.
This archive puts hundreds of surviving examples together in one place for web-history research, retro-site design, digital archaeology, interface reference, graphics study and anyone trying to remember what the internet looked like before every website became six rectangles and a newsletter popup.
Cataloging work
The collection has also been examined as a historical corpus. Hundreds of filenames can be associated with recognizable software, companies, services, games, web communities and technologies. That makes the set useful for more than decoration: it is a compact visual index of the commercial and hobbyist web ecosystems that surrounded personal websites.
Rights and reuse
This is a historical preservation and research collection. Many graphics reference third-party companies, trademarks, websites, software projects or individual creators. Purchase does not transfer ownership of third-party intellectual property, and inclusion in this archive should not be interpreted as a claim that every individual graphic is public domain.
If you intend to reuse a specific image commercially, verify the rights and trademark status of that particular graphic first. For historical study, reference, preservation and personal retro-web projects, the collection is provided as an organized snapshot of the material as it survived.
706 tiny rectangles. A suspicious amount of internet history.
Examples:
| Image | Filename | Source / what it is about |
|---|---|---|
 |
aimlink-1.gif |
AIM / AOL Instant Messenger link |
 |
exploiter-1.gif |
Hacking/security/scene-themed site called Exploiter |
 |
eyeland-1.gif |
EyeLand website |
 |
gw2k-1.gif |
Gateway 2000 |
 |
hamexp-1.png |
Ham-radio / amateur-radio experiment or site |
 |
lovenow-1.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
neo_now88-1.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
place_97-1.gif |
1997-era site/service called Place; exact identity unclear |
 |
skeptic-news-now-1.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
slogo-1.gif |
Logo/button for a site, product, or organization; exact identity unclear from filename alone |
 |
vi_now-1.gif |
vi / Vim text editor |
 |
1blades.gif |
Likely a site/button named 'Blades'; exact origin unclear |
 |
1dlb.gif |
Unidentified legacy site/button abbreviated 'DLB' |
 |
2cows.gif |
Likely Two Cows / Tucows-related or cow-themed site; exact identity uncertain |
 |
3dkingdom.gif |
3D Kingdom / 3D-graphics website or community |
 |
3drlink.gif |
3D-related link/site button; exact identity unclear |
 |
68ch11now.jpg |
Unidentified legacy web button; filename suggests “68ch11now” |
 |
88tgb-button1.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
100hot.gif |
100hot / a 'Top 100' or popular-sites web-ranking service |
 |
102_1.gif |
Unidentified legacy web button; numeric filename gives little context |
 |
263gggk.gif |
Unidentified legacy web button; filename suggests “263gggk” |
 |
411.gif |
Likely '411' directory/information service |
 |
800x600.gif |
'Best viewed at 800×600' screen-resolution badge |
 |
1220499.gif |
Unidentified legacy web button; numeric filename gives little context |
 |
a2600now.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
AB_big3.gif |
Unidentified legacy web button; likely site initials 'AB' |
 |
abinow.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
abs.gif |
Unidentified site/product abbreviated ABS |
 |
ac3j.gif |
AC-3 / Dolby Digital-related, likely Japanese/site-specific badge |
 |
acrobat.gif |
Adobe Acrobat / PDF Reader |
 |
activewin.gif |
ActiveWin / Windows news or software site |
 |
ada.gif |
Ada programming language |
 |
adbut.gif |
Advertising / ad button; exact service unclear |
 |
adobesvg.gif |
Adobe SVG Viewer |
 |
adv_rar2.gif |
RAR archiver advertisement/badge |
 |
affection.gif |
Site/button named 'Affection'; exact origin unclear |
 |
aikiweb.gif |
AikiWeb / Aikido community website |
 |
aim-button-thumb.jpg |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
aimlink.gif |
AIM / AOL Instant Messenger link |
 |
aladdinnow.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
altavista.gif |
AltaVista search engine |
 |
amazing_free_stuff.gif |
Unidentified legacy web button; filename suggests “amazing free stuff” |
 |
amazon.gif |
Amazon / early Amazon web-commerce button |
 |
amazonpurple.gif |
Amazon / early Amazon web-commerce button |
 |
angelfire.gif |
Angelfire free web hosting |
 |
anilogo.gif |
Logo/button for a site, product, or organization; exact identity unclear from filename alone |
 |
anim_id4.gif |
Animated id Software/id-related button; exact identity uncertain |
 |
animicon.gif |
Icon / icon-gallery resource |
 |
aniquake.gif |
Quake |
 |
anow.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
anthrax.gif |
Anthrax (likely band or site; exact context unclear) |
 |
any_browser.gif |
Web browser / browser-compatibility button |
 |
anybrow.gif |
Browser-neutral / anti-'best viewed with' web button |
 |
anybrowser.gif |
Web browser / browser-compatibility button |
 |
anybrowser2.gif |
Web browser / browser-compatibility button |
 |
anydamn.gif |
Browser-neutral / anti-'best viewed with' web button |
 |
aol_internet_explorer.gif |
AOL / America Online (often anti-AOL or browser-related) |
 |
aol_sucks02.gif |
AOL / America Online (often anti-AOL or browser-related) |
 |
aolsucks.gif |
AOL / America Online (often anti-AOL or browser-related) |
 |
aoltos_a.gif |
Unidentified legacy web button; filename suggests “aoltos a” |
 |
apocalypse_now.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
apple_computer.gif |
Apple / Macintosh |
 |
apple.gif |
Apple / Macintosh |
 |
arachne.gif |
Arachne DOS web browser |
 |
arch.gif |
Likely Arch Linux or an 'Arch' site; era/context makes exact identity uncertain |
 |
archined_nu.gif |
Unidentified 'Archined.nu' website button |
 |
artwanted.gif |
ArtWanted.com artist/community site |
 |
asacp.gif |
ASACP / adult-site child-protection organization |
 |
asylum2.gif |
Site/project named Asylum; exact origin unclear |
 |
aw_icon.gif |
Icon / icon-gallery resource |
 |
awesome.gif |
Generic 'awesome' web badge/button |
 |
axbut.gif |
Unidentified AX button |
 |
bandwith_conservation_society.gif |
Bandwidth Conservation Society / low-bandwidth web badge |
 |
banner_2.gif |
Unidentified legacy web button; filename suggests “banner 2” |
 |
bblogo.gif |
Logo/button for a site, product, or organization; exact identity unclear from filename alone |
 |
bbn.gif |
BBN / Bolt Beranek and Newman is possible, but exact button uncertain |
 |
bcbutton21.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
benzwarez.gif |
Warez/crack-scene site named BenzWarez |
 |
best_show_time_for_your_life.gif |
Humorous 'best viewed' / browser-era web badge |
 |
best_viewed_with_eyes.gif |
Browser-neutral / anti-'best viewed with' web button |
 |
bestview.gif |
Browser-neutral / anti-'best viewed with' web button |
 |
BIGAIR_now.jpg |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
bitmap.gif |
Bitmap graphics / bitmap image format |
 |
blacksun_icon2.gif |
Icon / icon-gallery resource |
 |
blackthorn_enterprises02.gif |
Blackthorn Enterprises website/company |
 |
blink.gif |
HTML BLINK / Netscape-era blinking-text culture |
 |
blues_news_now.gif |
Blue's News gaming news site |
 |
bnetdev.gif |
Battle.net development or BNet-related site |
 |
bollocks_now_95.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
bonknow.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
boot.gif |
Boot / computer startup-related button |
 |
botao.gif |
Generic 'button' ('botão' in Portuguese) |
 |
braknow.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
browser.gif |
Web browser / browser-compatibility button |
 |
browser1.gif |
Web browser / browser-compatibility button |
 |
browser7.gif |
Web browser / browser-compatibility button |
 |
bscnani1.gif |
Unidentified animated BSCN button |
 |
bspnow.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
bt-pcstbee.gif |
Unidentified legacy site/button; probably PC/software related |
 |
budgie.gif |
Budgie-themed/site button; exact identity unclear |
 |
built_with_amiga02.gif |
Commodore Amiga |
 |
built_with_microsoft_notepad.gif |
Microsoft (possibly parody/anti-Microsoft) |
 |
bunbrowser.gif |
Browser-related button; likely Bun/BunBrowser |
 |
butnow.jpg |
Generic '… Now' web button |
 |
Button_InternetExplerror.gif |
Microsoft Internet Explorer / browser-war button |
 |
Button_MacOS8.gif |
Apple Macintosh / Mac OS |
 |
button_outlook.png |
Microsoft Outlook |
 |
Button_Rocketmount.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
Button_ScreenThemes.gif |
Desktop/web themes resource |
 |
button_takeone.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
button-doit.png |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
button-mosaic-large.gif |
NCSA Mosaic web browser |
 |
button.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
button.jpg |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
button78.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
buttonmania.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
buttonthree.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
BuyABook88x31.gif |
Book-purchase / 'Buy a Book' promotional button |
 |
buyit.gif |
'Buy it' commerce button |
 |
c64ik.gif |
Commodore 64 |
 |
cab_now.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
cab2_now.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
camtime.png |
Webcam / live-camera page |
 |
can_iam.gif |
Unidentified 'Can I Am' site/button |
 |
canadab.gif |
Canada / Canadian-site button |
 |
candy.gif |
Candy-themed site/button; exact identity unclear |
 |
channel.gif |
Web channel / push-content era (possibly IE Channels) |
 |
chill.gif |
Site/button named Chill; exact identity unclear |
 |
christnow.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
church-arson-holocaust.gif |
Church Arson Holocaust memorial/advocacy site or campaign |
 |
cinebtn.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
clanbase.gif |
ClanBase online gaming league |
 |
classicgaming.gif |
ClassicGaming.com / retro-gaming web network |
 |
clip2.gif |
Clip-art / generic clip button; exact source unclear |
 |
clip3.gif |
Clip-art / generic clip button; exact source unclear |
 |
clip7.gif |
Clip-art / generic clip button; exact source unclear |
 |
clip8.gif |
Clip-art / generic clip button; exact source unclear |
 |
cliquer.gif |
French/European 'click' link button; exact site unclear |
 |
cloud9-b.gif |
Cloud 9 site/service button |
 |
clubcardbutton.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
 |
cnn.gif |
CNN |
 |
coffeecup.gif |
CoffeeCup HTML/web-authoring software |
 |
colorhunt.gif |
Color/graphics resource named Color Hunt |
 |
comdex4.gif |
COMDEX computer-industry trade show |
 |
conr.gif |
Unidentified CONR site/button |
 |
cont-now.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
cool-shades.gif |
Unidentified legacy web button; filename suggests “cool shades” |
 |
cooltxt.gif |
CoolText graphics/logo generator |
 |
copyscape.gif |
Copyscape plagiarism checker |
 |
cosmo.gif |
Cosmo/Cosmopolitan or site named Cosmo; exact identity unclear |
 |
cowbrow.gif |
Cow-themed browser/site button; exact identity unclear |
 |
crackdes2.gif |
Crack/design or warez-scene site; exact name unclear |
 |
crackdesnow.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
cres_now.gif |
A classic 'Get/Use/Visit … NOW!' 88×31-style web button; exact subject depends on artwork |
 |
crescendo_icon.gif |
Icon / icon-gallery resource |
 |
crystals_now.gif |
Crystal/graphics themed site or resource |
 |
ctbutton.gif |
Generic 88×31 web button; exact site/product not identifiable from filename alone |
