Monday Eye Candy: Paper Machines

Today's eye candy is from Markus Krajewski's Paper Machines: About Cards & Catalogs, 1548-1929. The book discusses why the card catalog--a “paper machine” with rearrangeable elements--can be regarded as a precursor of the computer. It contains 24 figures and 1 table (click on each image to enlarge).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The classification system of the Pandectae in Gessner 1549, following a tree structure. (From Gessner 1549, page after the cover)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hybrid card index in book form. (From Placcius 1689, p. 67.)

 

 

 

 

Excerpt cabinet. (From Placcius 1689, p. 152.)

 

 

 

 

French prerevolutionary playing cards. (From François 1974, p. 81.)

 

 

 

 

 

The catalog capsule. (From Petschar, Strouhal, and Zobernig 1999, p. 112.)