The set of illustrations is called En L’An 2000, and they were originally made between 1899 and 1910 (initially for the Paris’ World Exhibition) mostly as postcards. Remarkably colored with some retro-futuristic flair, the artworks were later discovered by science fiction author Isaac Asimov, and were subsequently published in his 1986 work of nonfiction Futuredays: A Nineteenth Century Vision of the Year 2000. Suffice it to say, they demonstrate how late 19th century artists envisaged the year of 2000 for the future of mankind.

Firefighters sans the jet-packs, take the aerial route –

Cops with panache chase a ‘high-flying’ smuggler –

Automated grooming machines at the neighborly barber shop –

Not quite a vacuum cleaner, but the idea is not bad –

Chemistry meets culinary pursuits –

A lady parlor with all the ‘bells-and-whistles’ –

Audio books?!

Mechanized breeding contraptions for poultry –

Underwater Croquet match with enjoyed with some nifty diving paraphernalia –

A Whale Bus? Doctor Who covered this, but in space.

Armored vehicles with machine guns –

An RV, but with a much better view –

Suits automatically tailored to precise specifications –

Putting the human symphony out of employment –

Robbing eagle nests, but with a bit of aerial daredevilry –

A helicopter keeping a watch-out for prison escapes –

All images are courtesy of Wikimedia Commons / Via: Slate