What is this image from?

July 26, 2007 2:59 PM

Does anyone recognize what book this illustration is from? It looks pretty old. Hopefully in the public domain.
posted by Charlie Lesoine to society & culture (13 comments total)

I failed to mention I found the image on this german blog while randomly searching google images. I cant read german.
posted by Charlie Lesoine at 3:03 PM on July 26, 2007

It's used on the cover of The Secret Language of Birthdays. The inside flap says it was used courtesy of The Bettmann Archive. Maybe they can identify it?
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 3:10 PM on July 26, 2007

Here you go.
posted by vacapinta at 3:12 PM on July 26, 2007

Here is some more information regarding this illustration from Wikipedia - Flammarion woodcut by Camille Flammarion.
posted by wannalol at 3:25 PM on July 26, 2007 [1 favorite]

Any other products that might have appropriated this image?
posted by Charlie Lesoine at 3:35 PM on July 26, 2007

It was used on the inner sleeve of Donovan's 1973 LP Cosmic Wheels.
posted by Dr.Pill at 4:30 PM on July 26, 2007

Also used on the cover of Daniel Boorstin's "The Discoverers"
posted by cosmicbandito at 4:35 PM on July 26, 2007

Microsoft included a colorized version of that image (flopped horizontally) in their game "Pandora's Box".
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 5:17 PM on July 26, 2007

I was going to ask exactly this same question about two years ago, but I couldn't find an online copy of the image to reference. Thanks!

BTW, it is also used on the cover of a book about Rainbows. I have it buried somewhere in the attic, and my past attempts to locate it on Amazon failed.
posted by alms at 8:57 PM on July 26, 2007

Wow, I've been looking for a high-quality print of that illustration for years! Any suggestions?
posted by you're a kitty! at 1:52 PM on July 27, 2007

I found a super hi res gif: here
posted by Charlie Lesoine at 6:19 PM on July 27, 2007

Lovely, CL, thanks!
posted by you're a kitty! at 2:21 AM on July 29, 2007

Word. Kitty. here's what I made with the image
posted by Charlie Lesoine at 4:52 PM on July 31, 2007