For centuries, illustrations have been important for disseminating scientific discoveries, technical advances, and artistic innovations by aiding how the human eye and brain learn through visual media. Authors, illustrators and publishers can influence readers through their choice of illustrations and production methods. National Geographic has been illustrating the world through photographs in their magazine since 1888, documenting people, places, nature, and events around the world to inform and inspire readers.

1. National Geographic Illustrating Worlds Through Photographs Caution : May contain graphic images

3. The North American Sylva by Francois Andr é Michaux (Smithsonian Institution Libraries)

4. The Illustrated London News, Est.1842 (Smithsonian Institution Libraries)

5. The World Tour: A New Journal of Travels (Est. 1860) (Smithsonian Institute Libraries)

6. Illustrated London News: Eskimos. (Smithsonian Institution Libraries)

7. Illustrated London News: Savages. (Smithsonian Institution Libraries)

8. World Tour: A New Journal of Travels (Smithsonian Institute Libraries)

9. World Tour: A New Journal of Travels (Smithsonian Institute Libraries)

10. Louis Jacques Daguerre (1787-1851)

11. 1850 Daguerreotype camera

12. Cours de Microscopie Complementaire des Etudes M é dicales, Anatomie Microscopique et Physiologie des Fluides de L’Economie. Paris, 1845. (Olaf Breidbach)

13. Spanish American War (1898)

14. The National Geographic Magazine (Smithsonian Institute Libraries)

15. The National Geographic Magazine, First Issue, 1888 (www.coverbrowser.com)

16. Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys 1926 W.H. Longley and Charles Martin (National Geographic)

17. Austria, 1937 W. Robert Moore (National Geographic Magazine)

18. The National Geographic Magazine, February 1901 (www.coverbrowser.com)

19. The National Geographic Magazine, March 1905 (www.coverbrowser.com)

20. The National Geographic Magazine, February 1910 (www.coverbrowser.com)

21. The National Geographic Magazine, July 1959 (www.coverbrowser.com)

22. The National Geographic, January 1962 (www.coverbrowser.com)

23. The National Geographic, September 1965 (www.coverbrowser.com)

24. The National Geographic, August 1969 (www.coverbrowser.com)

25. The National Geographic, April 1974 (www.coverbrowser.com)

26. The National Geographic, June 2009 (www.coverbrowser.com)

27. WARNING : Potentially disturbing images ahead

28. Herculaneum, Italy 1983 Louis Mazzatenta (National Geographic)

29. Puno, Peru 1981 William Albert Allard (National Geographic)

30. Victoria, Australia 1986 Cary Wolinsky (National Geographic)

31. Akikiki, Hawaii 2009 Dean Conger (National Geographic)