Retro-Futurism & Science Fiction | LOC's Public Domain Archive collections

[Aerialist wearing wings strapped to his shoulders and feet while susp...

Tissandier collection. Public domain image of a balloon aerostat, early aeronautics, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

The Future of Trinity Church - Public domain architectural engraving

Cartoon showing church with a large building built around it. Wood engraving by Albert Levering. Illus. in: Puck, 1907 March 6. Ref. copy may be in LOT 4249. This record contains unverified, old data from capti... More

[Metropolis] / Klebrand., Art Deco Poster, Movie Poster

Poster for Fritz Lang's film "Metropolis" shows the character Maria in Rotwang's transformation machine. Exchange ; Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Masse zu - Public domain drawing

Print shows several people in a hot-air balloon with bombs bursting around them, masses of dead people on the ground, in a scene depicting an imagined the end of the world. Title and other descriptive informati... More

World's Fair, railroad pageant. Woman of the future from the cast of R...

The New York World's Fair was a large international exposition held in New York City, United States in 1939-1940. The 1939-1940 World's Fair was themed "The World of Tomorrow" and featured pavilions and exhibit... More

[Comic scene involving balloons and people surveying the Moon]

Print shows illustration relating to the Great Moon Hoax with people spying on human-bat creatures on the Moon as other people are transported between Earth and the Moon by way of a balloon basket. Landauer Co... More

[Submarine passing the bow of a ship]

Title devised by cataloger. (DLC/PP-1933:0034). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustration (Library of Congress). Published as cover of: Collier's magazine, March 20, 1915.

Projet d'une traversée du pole Nord en ballon / Poyet.

Print at bottom of page shows a cross section of the basket beneath the balloon, "Le Sivel" during its expedition to the North Pole. Interior of cabin includes a central living area occupied by four men, an are... More

A musical farce comedy, The air ship by J.M. Gaites.

"Greater New York." Caption: An actual scene. Created and "copyrigh[t] 1898 by The H.C. Miner Litho. Co., N.Y." No. 6325. Forms part of: Theatrical poster collection (Library of Congress)

The aerial steam carriage - Drawing. Public domain image.

Pictorial lettersheet shows British inventor William Samuel Henson's proposed steam powered flying machine in an imaginary flight over the Thames River, London, 1843. Attempts to fly a model of the aerial steam... More

Their first Christmas eve; - a vision of the future / C.J. Taylor.

Print shows a well-dressed couple sitting on a sofa before a fire in the fireplace, with the spirits of three young children dancing around a Christmas tree; there are art-nouveau style furnishings (lamp and fl... More

The invasion of England / L.M. Glackens.

Illustration shows German soldiers and officers invading England by means of hot-air balloons and other types of airships; also shows German emperor William II dictating "Fall of Albion an epic poem by the Kais... More

[Metropolis] / Klebrand., Movie Poster

Poster for Fritz Lang's film "Metropolis" shows the character Maria in Rotwang's transformation machine. Exchange ; Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Partenza di Pulcinella per la luna

Print shows illustration relating to the Great Moon Hoax with Punch riding to the moon in a ship on a chain track; inset shows Herschel's machine and moon observatory.

Parachute renversè de Henin - Public domain book illustration

Print shows man standing in the basket of an ascending balloon which features an elaborate system of sails and a reversed parachute underneath the basket. "Page 178." Illustration from an unidentified book or p... More

Plateforme aérienne cerf-volant libre dirigeable, système Vaussin-Char...

Scaled design drawing shows a system for navigating an airship using propellers. Includes plans of dirigible platform body and complete platform assembly, and identification key. Tissandier collection.

[Cures d'air dans la montagne] / A. Robida.

Drawing shows an airship "Cures d'air" supporting the "Pension Bellevue" for individuals requiring medical care and floating above a mountainous region. One of the artist's conceptions for his book on life in t... More

The future of the ticker / Glackens.

Illustration shows an outlandishly dressed tour guide at a museum explaining an exhibit showing a ticker tape machine to an equally outlandishly dressed couple touring the museum. Caption: Museum Attendant (in... More

The zeppelin raids: the vow of vengeance. Drawn for "The Daily Chronic...

Poster showing a soldier shaking his fist at a zeppelin following bombing.

Mr. Blanchard accompagné de Mr. Gefferies est parti ... entre Calais e...

Print shows Jean Pierre Blanchard and John Jefferies arriving in Calais after crossing the English Channel in a hot air balloon. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Prints and Drawings. Dollfus 40; Gibbs-Smith... More

Le globe volant. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Illustration shows a man navigating a balloon with an attached oar and rudder while seated in the basket. "Page 164." Illus. from an unidentified book or periodical. Tissandier collection.

The air-serpent / Frank A. Nankivell 1909.

Illustration shows a large winged-serpent wearing a friendly mask, frightening the passengers aboard an airship. Caption: Which of our aerial navigators will report him first? Illus. in: Puck, v. 65, no. 1689 ... More

Set in their ways / L.M. Glackens.

Illustration shows an old man labeled "Republican Reactionary" and an old woman labeled "Democratic Reactionary" standing together, looking up at a dirigible labeled "Progressive Policies". Caption: "Well, the... More

Scoperte fatte nella luna dal Sigr. Herschell

Print shows illustration relating to the Great Moon Hoax with a human-bat creature, two other supernatural creatures, and a lunar landscape. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Prints and Drawings. Accession b... More

Partenza di Pulcinella per la luna

Print shows illustration relating to the Great Moon Hoax with Punch riding to the moon in a ship on a chain track; inset shows Herschel's machine and moon observatory.

Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Hanger No. 1, Cummins Avenue, Moffett...

Significance: In the nation's quest to provide security for the lengthy expanse of its coastlines the opportunity for air reconnaissance was realized by the futuristic Admiral William A. Moffett. Through his ef... More

Plateforme aérienne, cerf-volant libre dirigeable, système Vaussin-Cha...

Design drawing shows a system for powering an airship with manually operated propellers. Includes longitudinal views of dirigible platform assembly and identification key. Tissandier collection.

Some time in the future / Dalrymple.

Print shows Uncle Sam comforting a crying female figure labeled "Cuba", as two men with broken swords labeled "Insurgent" and "Spaniard" take a break from fighting. Caption: When insurgent and Spaniard have wo... More

The consumer's only chance / Frank A. Nankivell.

Illustration shows a woman mooring an airship to the chimney on the roof of her home by the light of a full moon; on board the airship are "American Goods Bought in England" that are being smuggled into the U.S... More

It is far better to face the bullets than to be killed at home by a bo...

Poster showing a dirigible in the night sky over London, illuminated by a searchlight.

[Balloons, airships, and other flying machines designed with some form...

Single sheet with 45 numbered illustrations; lacking identification key. No. 18 shows a collapsible Montgolfier balloon from 1784; no. 23 is the design for a glider balloon as described in "Reflections on the ... More

[Balloons, airships, and other flying machines designed with some form...

Single sheet with 45 numbered illustrations; lacking identification key. No. 18 shows a collapsible Montgolfier balloon from 1784; no. 23 is the design for a glider balloon as described in "Reflections on the ... More

[Humorous portrayal of a man who flies with wings attached to his tuni...

Public domain scan of 15th-16th century print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Patent drawing - Flugmaschine. Erfunden von Jacob Degen in Wien, 1807 ...

Technical illustration shows elevation and horizontal section of a man-powered flying machine constructed and tested unsuccessfully by Swiss watchmaker Jakob Degen living in Vienna in the early 1800s. A pair of... More

Domitor / H. Franco̧is. - Lithograph, public domain, Library of Congre...

Print shows Taillepied de La Garenne's proposed system of aerial navigation consisting of a balloon with a double parachute on a single axis capable of transporting six persons; parachutes open on an axis exten... More

Domitor / H. Franco̧is. - Engraving, Public domain image

Print shows Taillepied de La Garenne's proposed system of aerial navigation consisting of a balloon with a double parachute on a single axis capable of transporting six persons; parachutes in open position exte... More

Voyage a la lune - Drawing. Public domain image.

French cartoon shows a man riding on a bicycle-like flying machine while looking through a telescope attached to the front. Two balloons, "Veloc[ipedes]" and "Domanie," are attached at front and rear as are pro... More

The Future Washington, proposed treatment of monument and gardens

Public domain scan of a plan of settlement buildings, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Flying / J.W. Lowry, sculpt. - Drawing. Public domain image.

Technical illustration shows Besnier's 1678 design for a flying machine using arm and leg power, two views of Jakob Degen's man-powered flying machine, and two views after designs published in Thomas Walker's "... More

Lunar animals and other objects Discovered by Sir John Herschel in his...

Print shows illustration for the New York Sun relating to the Great Moon Hoax with human-bat creatures, unicorns, and other imaginery beings on the Moon. 246 U.S. Copyright Office. Publication date based on co... More

[Futuristic air travel] / Harry Grant Dart.

Drawing shows a woman at the wheel of a futuristic aircraft. A man sits beside her. The drawing appeared on the cover of "All Story" magazine. Accession box no. 55 (C size)

Airships are getting so dreadfully commonplace / Will Crawford.

Illustration shows a two panel cartoon showing on the left, pedestrians and people in and on top of buildings looking with amazement at an airplane flying over a city; and on the right, citizens no longer take ... More

Ritorno di Pulcinella dalla luna

Print shows illustration relating to the Great Moon Hoax with Punch standing in a ship in which he has returned from the moon with bottles of "acqua lunateca." Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Prints and Dr... More

A musical farce comedy, The air ship by J.M. Gaites.

"Greater New York." Caption: An actual scene. Created and "copyrigh[t] 1898 by The H.C. Miner Litho. Co., N.Y." No. 6325. Forms part of: Theatrical poster collection (Library of Congress)

Scoperte fatte nella luna dal Sigr. Herschell

Print shows illustration relating to the Great Moon Hoax with a human-bat creature, two other supernatural creatures, and a lunar landscape. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Prints and Drawings. Accession b... More

Navire aérien, le poisson volant, inventé et exécuté par M. Camille Ve...

Broadside announcing the exhibit at the Palais de l'industrie, séances expérimentales in Paris of a fish-shaped, steam-powered airship designed by Camille Vert. Features design drawing of the airship, equipped ... More

Le Sortie de l'opéra en l'an 2000 / A. Robida.

Print shows a futuristic view of air travel over Paris as people leave the Opera. Many types of aircraft are depicted including buses and limousenes, police patrol the skies, and women are seen driving their ow... More

Arènes du sport aéronautique sous la direction de Eugène Godard, aîné,...

Broadside announcing an aeronautics exhibition organized under the direction of balloonist Eugene Godard and held in Paris in 1885. Includes picture of the balloon "L'Avenir" equipped with two separate passenge... More

A peep at the future of government ownership / L.M. Glackens.

Illustration shows various forms of transportation owned by the government and operated by an abundance of government employees, suggesting that some level of corruption is also an aspect of federal, state, or ... More

Man from Planet X / World Telegram photo by Dick DeMarsico.

Photograph shows a man dressed in a Martian costume. NYWT&S staff photo. New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection (Library of Congress).

[Maison tournante aérienne] / A. Robida.

Drawing shows a dwelling structure elevated above rooftops and designed to revolve and adjust in various directions. An occupant points to an airship with a fish-shaped bag in the sky lower right. One of the ar... More

Navigation aérienne. Ballon & appareil de direction construit par M. P...

Print shows the airship "Avenir" floating above a coastline, ships at sea, and a small balloon in the background.

A musical farce comedy, The air ship by J.M. Gaites.

Caption: The fly cop. Created and "copyright 1898 by The H.C. Miner Litho. Co., N.Y." No. 6323. Forms part of: Theatrical poster collection (Library of Congress)

Prof. A.T. Glasgow, American vaudeville and popular entertainment 1870...

"Russell-Morgan Print." Created and "copyrighted 1898 by The U.S. Printing Co., Cin. & N.Y." No. 4147. Forms part of: Theatrical poster collection (Library of Congress)

Aviation, études, essais et inventions qui, sans résourdre le problème...

Design drawings for a man-powered flying machine with manually controlled wings entitled, "Vélocipède aérien," proposed by Jean Jacques Bourcart, Paris, August, 1866. (Source: A.G. Renstrom, LC staff, 1981-82.)... More

[Albert Tissandier (left), Gaston Tissandier (right), and an unidentif...

Tissandier collection. Public domain scan of portrait print from Library of Congress, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Eden-concert, enl'vez l'ballon revue de m.m. Hermil & Numès, 17 boulev...

French circus poster shows two performers in the basket of an airship navigated by a rudder and a propeller. The basket bears the date 1884. Tissandier collection.

"Independence Day" of the future / C.J. Taylor.

Print shows a future 4th of July celebration where women have gained suffrage and equality; it shows young and old women ringing a bell labeled "Equal Rights", as women emerge from underground and participate i... More

Old words to a new air / Frank A. Nankivell.

Illustration shows John Bull, standing with one foot on England and the other on Ireland, holding strings attached to many warships which encircle the United Kingdom, while overhead fly menacing armed aircraft.... More

The old and the new / BBaker. - Political cartoon, public domain image

Illustration shows the new year, "1911", arriving by airplane, while on the ground Father Time looks aghast at the airplane overhead and the wreck of his automobile labeled "1910".

Flying / J.W. Lowry, sculpt.

Technical illustration shows Besnier's 1678 design for a flying machine using arm and leg power, two views of Jakob Degen's man-powered flying machine, and two views after designs published in Thomas Walker's "... More

A musical farce comedy, The air ship by J.M. Gaites.

Caption: The fly cop. Created and "copyright 1898 by The H.C. Miner Litho. Co., N.Y." No. 6323. Forms part of: Theatrical poster collection (Library of Congress)

Flugmaschine. Erfunden von Jacob Degen in Wien, 1807 / Jos. Belbing, s...

Technical illustration shows elevation and horizontal section of a man-powered flying machine constructed and tested unsuccessfully by Swiss watchmaker Jakob Degen living in Vienna in the early 1800s. A pair of... More

Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Hanger No. 1, Cummins Avenue, Moffett...

Significance: In the nation's quest to provide security for the lengthy expanse of its coastlines the opportunity for air reconnaissance was realized by the futuristic Admiral William A. Moffett. Through his ef... More

Patent drawing - Navire aérien dirigeable. Systême J.B. Métivier, forc...

Scaled design drawing for a patent submitted by J.B. Métivier shows two cross-sections for a fish shaped airship utilizing balloons, sails, bellows, and propellers to transport passengers. (Source: A.G. Renstro... More

[Aerial balloon performance with tents and audience below]

Bella C. Landauer collection. Appears to be one sheet from a larger poster. Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 1964:R1.

The universal church of the future - from the present religious outloo...

Illustration shows an interior view of a hall in a museum with four men sitting quietly beneath a shelf of "Books of Religious Reference"; there is a small crowd gathered before them. Further along the hall is ... More

Surely the world is growing better / Will Crawford.

Illustration shows an imaginary battle where aircraft, battleships, and submarines are engaged in shooting at each other. Caption: Whereas formerly we fought our naval battles on top of the water only, we now ... More

[Maison tournante aérienne] / A. Robida.

Drawing shows a dwelling structure elevated above rooftops and designed to revolve and adjust in various directions. An occupant points to an airship with a fish-shaped bag in the sky lower right. One of the ar... More

Navigation aérienne. Ballon & appareil de direction construit par M. P...

Print shows the airship "Avenir" floating above a coastline, ships at sea, and a small balloon in the background.

A musical farce comedy, The air ship by J.M. Gaites.

"Greater New York." Caption: An actual scene. Created and "copyrigh[t] 1898 by The H.C. Miner Litho. Co., N.Y." No. 6325. Forms part of: Theatrical poster collection (Library of Congress)

[Airship powered by an electric motor developed by Albert and Gaston T...

Picryl description: Public domain image of an early aircraft, balloon, airship, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Diligenza di ritorno dalla luna / Gaetana Dura, dis. ; Lit. Gatti e Du...

Print shows a flying machine returning from the moon. Plate IV from Altre scoverte fatte nella luna dal Sigr. Herschel / Leopoldo Galluzzo ; J.N Nicollet ; Gaetano Dura ; Richard Adams Locke. Napoli : L. Gatti... More

Espérons que ce ballon d'essai ne deviendra pas un ballon captif / A. ...

Cartoon shows a hot air balloon labeled "Suffrage Universel" with wings floating above the Pyrenees and headed toward a sign labeled "Espagne". Illus. from: Actualités, no. 248. Tissandier collection.

Histoire des ballons, et des diverses ascensions qui ont eu lieu jusqu...

Broadside depicts two airship designs conceived by Ernst (Ernest) Pétin, incorporating four spherical balloons propelled by manually operated helical screws attached to a large flat surface, the lower part prov... More

[Design drawing for a man-powered flying machine designed by Sir Georg...

Illus. from: "Memoire sur la vol artificiel," by George Cayley, in Société aérostatique et météorologique de France, bull. no. 4, 1853, pl. 1. Title devised by library staff. (Source: A.G. Renstrom, LC staff, 1... More

Le ballon rédaction et bureaux A. Brissonnet ... Paris.

Clipping from an unknown book or magazine advertises the French aeronautical journal "Le ballon" and illustrates various means of flight including an ornithopter, early balloons and an airship. Text on verso a... More

[Robot cow walking up ship plank]

Title devised by cataloger. Published, possibly as title page, in "The Automaton Dummy : Bovine Usher" by Wallace Peck, Life, 8:25 (July 8, 1886). (DLC/PP-1932:0042). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustra... More

[Comic scene involving balloons and people surveying the Moon]

Print shows illustration relating to the Great Moon Hoax with people spying on human-bat creatures on the Moon as other people are transported between Earth and the Moon by way of a balloon basket. Landauer Co... More

Ritorno di Pulcinella dalla luna

Print shows illustration relating to the Great Moon Hoax with Punch standing in a ship in which he has returned from the moon with bottles of "acqua lunateca." Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Prints and Dr... More

Mr. Blanchard accompagné de Mr. Gefferies est parti ... entre Calais e...

Print shows Jean Pierre Blanchard and John Jefferies arriving in Calais after crossing the English Channel in a hot air balloon. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Prints and Drawings. Dollfus 40; Gibbs-Smith... More

Nouvelle forme de globe aërostatique. Au centre duquel est adapté pour...

Design drawing shows front and side elevations and plan of balloon with devices designed to facilitate navigation and maneuverability while in the air. Tissandier collection.

Patent drawing - Navigation aérienne. Solution dʹun grand problème par...

Scaled design drawings for a patent show Aug. Lanteigne's system of aerial navigation, which used a continuous belt of sails to achieve propulsion. (Source: A.G. Renstrom, LC staff, 1981-82.) Tissandier collection.

Lunar animals and other objects Discovered by Sir John Herschel in his...

Print shows illustration for the New York Sun relating to the Great Moon Hoax with human-bat creatures, unicorns, and other imaginery beings on the Moon. 246 U.S. Copyright Office. Publication date based on co... More

L'arriveé, Tissandier Collection, France

Drawing shows the descent of a balloon with a parachutist below and balloonist in basket controlling descent. Tissandier collection.

[Submarine passing the bow of a ship]

Title devised by cataloger. (DLC/PP-1933:0034). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustration (Library of Congress). Published as cover of: Collier's magazine, March 20, 1915.

Salle de conférences ... Conférences experimentales sur la navigation ...

Broadside announcing a conference on flight designs by Camille Vert. Includes pictures of a lighter-than-air 'flying fish' airship and a heavier-than-air 'winged man' ornithopter. Tissandier collection.

Le veritable navigateur aerien / L.J. Stoupy Bijou, invenit et delinea...

Design drawing for an airship navigational system project by Stoupy Bijou consisting of five balloons fastened to a sixty foot mast, a rudder, two 12 foot long oars, and two polygonal vanes to control the rise ... More

[Embossed card shows balloon labelled "rien d'impossible" ascending wi...

Public domain image of a balloon aerostat, early aeronautics, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

In future years - Public domain American popular sheet music

This is a public-domain musical notation scan. There were many music publishers in the United States during the 1900s. Some of the most well-known ones include G. Schirmer, Inc., Boosey & Hawkes, and Hal Leonar... More