These images are taken from a novelty trading card set that was printed in 1902, imagining how women of the future might look in the roles that were exclusive to men at the time.

Now, it bears noting that there was no serious artistic intent behind these – they were not an exploration of the (then) future so much as they were a novel excuse to have photos of cute girls in costumes.

Yet somehow they remain far more convincing and charismatic than so, so many modern products that want us to take the notion of their “empowered” warrior women seriously.

– wincenworks