As I recuperate from several all-night work sessions because of three maddening deadlines, all within a week of each other, and before I start calling costume rental places asking if they have any chicken suits available, thought I'd share with you all some wonderful illustrations from this neato book on the futurist author Jules Verne. Considering that it's Mr. Verne's birthday today, consider this a little celebration for a man who stirred many an imagination with his wild and hairy stories, well over one-and-a-half centuries ago.
Jules Verne: The Man Who Invented the Future by Franz Born illustrated by Peter P. Plasencia ©1964 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 
A great book, with even greater illustrations by Peter P. Plasencia, who, as you may recall, illustrated the wonderful Space Alphabet book. I love seeing how Peter utilized the gouache to create various depths of field by the use of the subtle shades of grey. All the while, flattening the space within the composition. Superb work. Love it.
Great use of flattened perspective here.
LOVE this piece. Fantastic composition!
This illustration accompanies the text that Jules Verne's works greatly inspired the explorer Richard Byrd, who flew over the Artic (pictured here).
I know Verne is not an official "futurist" or "futurologist," but I'd like to think of him as such.
Actually, I'd love to become a futurologist, just so I can say, "I'm a futurologist." Sounds real nice when it rolls off the tongue.
Wow, this stuff is great! Thanks for posting it!!!
Ditto above - these are really beautiful and dynamic and great great great. Thanks for sharing.
They're wonderful, Ward - great find! Never heard of him...
Incredible compositions and great shapes!
The one with the figures running is probably one of the best images I've seen in a while! I love how simple, but gestural they are. It's just brilliant!
I agree, these are fantastic!
These are fantatstic! Thanks for posting them!
I love his style. One can track the influence of these wonderful fifties and sixties artists in so many illustrators of today.
Holy cow, these just floored me this afternoon! THANK YOU for sharing.
Great post! Thanks!
Fabulous illustrations. It's amazing what can be accomplished with black, white, and shades of grey.
absolutely beautiful
Fabulous!! Thanks for sharing these gems.
wow! that one composition...all of them really, what a fantastic post to share! ty, ward!