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Daniel Good Rare Books and Engravings

1558 Sea Monster Demon, First State, Conrad Gesner, woodcut, hand coloured, mythology

1558 Sea Monster Demon, First State, Conrad Gesner, woodcut, hand coloured, mythology

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Pan vel satyrus marinus

In Gesner's chapter on Tritons, this fascinting creature labeled "Sea-Pan or Sea-Satyr" (Latin: Pan vel Satyrus marina) is followed by a text stating: 

"This is the image of an ichthyocentaur or sea-demon (Latin: Iconem hanc ichthyocentauri, sive daemonis marini). The creature has a goat-like head with two-horns sitting on a human female-like torso with pendulous breast, human like arms but with fleshy pincer-like hands, and small fishlike fins where hind legs might be. It does not have the horse-forelegs of typical ichthyocentaur. 

Unidentified woodcut artist for Konrad Gesner (aka Conrad Gesner; Philiatrus Euonymus) (1516–1565)

Fine folio woodcut leaf.

38 x 21.7 cm

Issued in: Historiae animalium libri IIII qui est de piscium & aquatilium animantium natura, Zurich, Christopher Froschover, 1558.

References: Westwood & Satchell, p.105; Adams C598; Nissen ZBI 1553

FIRST EDITION. Due to a relative paucity of literature on fish from the classical era, Gesner based his work on contemporary research and first-hand observation. As a result, although the species are described in alphabetical order, the descriptions place much emphasis on the physical appearance of species and provide references to wider groups of morphologically similar fish. Similarly, the work is the first scholarly publication in which illustrations play a fundamental role. 

One of the most sought after woodcut from the work is this terrifying depiction of a Baleen whale based on the work of Olaus Magnus and mentioned by Gesner as an examples of animals which exist but have not been correctly depicted.

First state of the woodcut with rich inking and a very strong impression.

Some age toning to top of leaf and very minor spotting to outer margin.

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