The title alone points out that this is about something from an earlier time, as “Wonder” seems in short supply these days and “Power” is something you’re supposed to be ashamed of. The New York Public Library has digitized a series of “cigarette cards” (predecessors of the sort of cards that used to be sold with gum, and now are sold by themselves) from 1935-38, originally sold in packs of “Max Cigarettes.” The 250 cards in the “This Age of Power and Wonder” series are all over the place, covering history, fairy tales and future speculation, but a few are kinda interesting. For example, the value of atomic power to propel ships:
And speculation on the possibility of space travel, illustrated with a stereotypical art deco 1930’s spaceship:
