this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2025
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Chapotraphouse

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I could spend fucking hours just pouring over little details in them. It was like an educational "Where's Waldo".

If my sister ever has kids I'm buying them a bunch of these to turn them into little history buff nerds.

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[–] Collatz_problem@hexbear.net 35 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

My grandparents gave to me old Soviet "Children's Encyclopedia" books, and one of the page spreads had a detailed railway station. This directly resulted in me becoming a communist.

[–] Shaleesh@hexbear.net 21 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Here's a nice little article about the illustrator (Stephen Biesty) and his greater body of work.

There were copies in some of the local libraries and we must have checked it out a dozen times when I was a kid. It is very suprising to find just how weak the secondhand market is for these, listings are sparse and very expensive compared to other popularish childrens books of its age.

[–] Hyper_red@hexbear.net 23 points 2 days ago

It started with this and now I'm writing my dissertation on the white supremacy of Irish immigrants in 19th century America...

[–] Beaver@hexbear.net 19 points 2 days ago

These are what kids need instead of tik tok

[–] SoyViking@hexbear.net 29 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Yes! I would check out books like this from the library all the time.

Edit: I just realised that this form of art can be used for evil as well:

Fanciful visualisation of "Bin Laden's Mountain Fortress" from American propaganda. Shows an entire mountain completely hollowed out by tunnels

Note the lack of detail when compared to OP, there is so much less going on here even tho it shows a much larger structure. It's like looking at contemporary Lego sets that forego complexity for merch tie-ins to Marvel and Harry Potter slop.

[–] KuroXppi@hexbear.net 30 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I loved the castle one where they poop down the tower

[–] Hyper_red@hexbear.net 16 points 2 days ago

Fun fact poop towers are real, and how Germans and Austrians still poop to this day!

[–] ConcreteHalloween@hexbear.net 21 points 2 days ago

The ship ones also had people pooping.

And rats!

[–] daniyeg@hexbear.net 20 points 2 days ago

questionable accuracy aside, these diagrams kick ass.

[–] Dort_Owl@hexbear.net 27 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They were perfect for my little audhd brain.

[–] ConcreteHalloween@hexbear.net 15 points 2 days ago

It's a good way to find your special interest.

[–] UmmmCheckPlease@hexbear.net 16 points 2 days ago

Didn’t someone in the sites earlier days post a bunch of these? Anyway -same - I really enjoyed them and they give a v good nostalgia hit now

[–] kleeon@hexbear.net 18 points 2 days ago

Could stare at them for hours

[–] Tychoxii@hexbear.net 11 points 2 days ago
[–] miz@hexbear.net 14 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

could you name the series of books please? I recognize the layout style but...