Vintage Illustration from "The Big Book of Real Trucks"

At San Francisco's Alemany flea market, we recently picked up a clean copy of "The Big Book of Real Trucks," a children's book published in 1950, with superb illustrations by George J. Zaffo. We didn't have this book when we were kids -- the pictures seemed familiar, but we're a '67 model, so this would have been a few years before our time. Nevertheless, Zaffo's illustration work is timeless, both as a fine example of his craft, and as a window on midcentury industrial design.

We've scanned the whole book for your viewing pleasure.

LINK:
The Big Book of Real Trucks (1950)

PREVIOUSLY:
"Flight thru Instruments" and the Fine Art of Instructional Illustration

The Intimate Industrial Illustrations of Frank Soltesz

Comments

[Ethan]

I had that book when I was a kid. I loved it. Thanks for scanning and posting it.

[Dean Siracusa]

I totally remember this book as well. I'm a 1966 model but the copy of the book that I had wasn't much different than this one. Being a transportation nut all my life I have great memories of this book and ones like it.

Thanks for sharing!

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[Olyoop]

I used to check out this book and "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go" every single week from the Pittsford Village Library for about three years. I can't begin to describe the warm feelings that seeing this brings.

[Scott Mercer]

Shoot, I may have had this...I know I had something illustrated by this guy because the name "George J. Zaffo" is setting off alarm bells in my head. Thanks for the post.

[Virginia Postrel]

Too bad so many of these old books are destined for the trash, if not there already:
http://www.dynamist.com/weblog/archives/002969.html

http://bookshopblog.com/2009/02/14/cpsia-book-banning-in-the-guise-of-safety/

[Dr.MOZ]

I've been looking at new options for Dr.MOZ's studios in 2010, but now it's so clear after seeing the double-decker Greyhound. Why carpool to an office with rotating drivers every week when the office can pick-up workers and park in front of a different employees house every week?

Thank you Telstar Logistics for inspiring the next generation of workplace transportation ...commuta-telling!

[Boom Trucks]

It is great that people are thinking about the environment and working to make the world a safer place. Not only the materials that you are using on your home are safe for the environment but dump trucks have come a long way since the earlier models. We are learning and expanding and coming up with a wide range of safer more effective vehicles for the work force. I think it is great that many auto manufacturers are turning to hybrid vehicles to protect the environment and now they are even using hybrid dump trucks.

[Ships]

heheh, this boom is really with beautiful illustrations. Some of the best I have seen. It is quite hard to find such good painters nowardays.

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[Sue]

That is an awesome find, and thanks so much for sharing some of the pages with us, its amazing how well it has been looked after.

[Susan Trade Ins]

Thats a great book, I have to say that I really love the old styled cars and truck, don't get me wrong I do like the look of modern cars as well.

[charles otto]

Please help me find a book I helped Mr Zaffo illustrate. My name is in the book as doing so. Charles Otto. My father built his studio. The book in question has ,trains ,airplanes trucks. I believe a blue and white cover. My e-mail is otto727@yahoo.com

[digger derricks]

those are the trucks I remember growing up to. The classic trucks that always made your heart pund with excitement when u saw them driving by,

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Shoot, I may have had this...I know I had something illustrated by this guy because the name "George J. Zaffo" is setting off alarm bells in my head. Thanks for the post.