This is a book called “Cartoons and Caricatures or Making the World Laugh” by ZIM. And it’s the friggin greatest book about illustrating cartoons I’ve ever seen. It’s a little dirty, but that’s because it’d been at the bottom of a pile of books for 50 years. I bought it for a buck*, and now you get to see it. A bunch hilarious illustrations and timeless setups all for the greater good of classic, classic-assed humor. And also a few giggles along the way.

*I do really, really get lots of things at rummage sales for a buck. Most people, when they have huge stacks of crap they just want to get rid of, sell it for a buck an item.

I trade dollars for delight.

Take a long hard look at these pictures. After that, consider that these were done in the 20 years prior to 1910. This book, whose gigantic title actually reads as thus: “Cartoons and Caricatures or Making the World Laugh by ZIM, High Court Jester to His Majesty the King of Laughter.” Printed and published by Correspondence Institute of America, Scranton, Pennsylvania, 1910. – Zim notes inside that he’s worked on the book 20 years.

I recommend finding the illustrations about Zim handing over barrels of jokes to his employers, or in most cases to his freelance “bosses.” Furthermore, look below the gallery for an enlarged picture of the ending of the book. And don’t worry about ruining the story for yourself, because

1. It’s not that kinda book,

and 2. You ain’t never gonna read this book.

This post is part of the World Famous Design Junkies illustrations category.