S. Gallagher / R. Van der Meer - Inside the Personal Computer: Pop-Up book - 1984

Inside the Personal Computer: Pop-Up Book
An Illustrated Introduction in 3 Dimensions

Written and curated by Sharon Gallagher
Engineering and paper design by Ron Van der Meer

Published in 1984, "Inside the Personal Computer: An Illustrated Introduction in 3 Dimensions" represents one of the milestones of vintage technological outreach, combining Ron van der Meer's paper engineering with the budding curiosity about home computing.

This pop-up book is not a mere manual, but a tactile experience designed to demystify how 1980s computers work. Through spectacular three-dimensional models that pop off the pages, the reader can visually explore the architecture of a machine, from the keyboard to the internal circuits.

The volume uses pull tabs, rotating wheels, and complex paper mechanisms to explain concepts that were at the cutting edge at the time: for example, showing how the physical pressure of a key is transformed into electrical pulses, then encoded in binary language and the ASCII standard. Each section is dedicated to a key component, such as the floppy disk drive, RAM, or the operation of dot-matrix printers, making visible processes that occur behind the screen.

Today, in addition to being a sought-after collectible for lovers of editorial design, the book remains a fascinating historical document that perfectly captures the aesthetics and technological optimism of its era.

Conditions

The volume presents in overall good condition. Cover with slight signs of wear. Spine well bound. Internal pages clean without stains, with some minor wear to the pop-ups. A good collectible copy.

COMBINED SHIPPING available for multiple purchases.