From a drawing in 'Studies for Stories', Jean Ingelow, 1864.
Source Firkin
To get the tile this is based on, select the rectangle in Inkscape and use shift+alt+i.
Source Firkin
Remixed from an image that was uploaded to Pixabay by Pixeline
Source Firkin
Adapted heavily from a JPG that was uploaded to Pixabay by Viscious-Speed.
Source Firkin
From a tile that can be had by selecting the rectangle in Inkscape and using shift+alt+i.
Source Firkin
From a drawing in 'Resa i Afrika, genom Angola, Ovampo och Damaraland', P. Moller, 1899.
Source Firkin
This one looks like a cork panel. Feel free to use it as a tiled background on your blog or website.
Source V. Hartikainen
Never out of fashion and so much hotter than the 45º everyone knows, here is a sweet 60º line pattern.
Source Atle Mo
Free tiled background with colorful stripes and white splatter.
Source V. Hartikainen
A topographic map like this has actually been requested a few times, so here you go!
Source Sam Feyaerts
From a drawing in 'Les Chroniqueurs de l'Histoire de France depuis les origines jusqu'au XVIe siècle', Henriette Witt, 1884.
Source Firkin
Light square grid pattern, great for a “DIY projects” sort of website, maybe?
Source Rafael Almeida
Dark, lines, noise, tactile. You get the drift.
Source Anatoli Nicolae
Here's a new paper-like background for free use on personal and commercial projects (this applies to all background patterns here).
Source V. Hartikainen