Thread by @dfedman

Herewith a thread of images from a wonderfully eclectic Meiji-era compilation of "Profiles of Heroes of the World" (1874?)

The book begins, well, at the beginning, with a less-than-exposed Adam and Eve, placed just above Noah and his ark. 1/

From there it jumps across time and space to profile an assorted lot of generals, polymaths, and pioneers -- some real, some the stuff of legend.

Here's George Washington, sitting atop the iron throne. 2/

Somewhat more puzzlingly, just two pages later we encounter Benedict Arnold, the Revolutionary War General whose name is now synonymous with treason. 3/

Here's a ripped Julius Caesar, taking a break from arm day to stare down his enemies. 4/

Next we find Robert Hooke, the British philosopher and architect, hard at work on his survey of London in the wake of the Great Fire of 1666. 5/

Just a few pages later we meet the wise King Solomon. Is it just me or does this story take on a far more sinister cast when only the king and the baby are pictured? 6/

Here's David slinging his rock. Not pictured: Goliath. 7/

Here's the Greek mathematician Archimedes, calculating as only he could. 8/

And what's that oer yonder? Why it's the astronomer Edmond Halley having just espied his namesake. 9/

Here's the British naturalist and illustrator William Jackson Hooker collecting specimen. 10/

Amidst a eureka moment we find Luigi Galvani, the Italian physician known for his experiments on bio-electricity. Those poor frogs. 11/

Here's Daedalus, the great builder in Greek mythology, hard at work on a pair of wings for his son Icarus. Reach for the stars, son. 12/

Here's the French artist Louis Daguerre, putting his eponymous photographic process to work.  13/

Not to be messed with is Pepin the Short, King of the Franks and father of Charlemagne, slaying a lion (or bull?), as legend would have it. 14/

And finally, here's the American soldier William Jasper, sergeant of the South Carolina Regiment during the Revolutionary War, defiantly waving the stars and stripes in the face of fire. 15/

Written by 関吉孝 and illustrated by 石塚寧斎, the book is entitled 万国英雄銘々伝. You can find a full scan via the NDL here: dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid…

Regrettably, the scan is black-and-white, depriving us of a riot of color.