Rare and attractive leaf with 5 beautifully hand-coloured woodcuts from one of the most famous Renaissance books on prodigies and extraordinary natural phenomena printed in Basel 1557. These early woodcuts depict conjoined twins joined at the body, a radiant sun with human face, a monstrous birth showing a child with severe anatomical deformities and exposed internal organs, armies engaged in battle, heraldic lions in combat and lastly a celestial scene featuring a radiant sun surrounded by stars. The leaf originates from the celebrated Renaissance chronicle of wonders by Conrad Lycosthenes, Prodigiorum ac Ostentorum Chronicon (Basel, 1557) and draws on classical and medieval sources of its time such as Sebastian Münster, Conrad Gesner, Cardano and Paracelsus. The work reflects the Renaissance fascination with unusual natural phenomena, monsters, mythical creatures and other marvels of nature at the crossroads of early science, astrology and natural history. Dimensions: 26,5 x 19 cm Good condition. Attention for US buyers: Due to recent export problems higher shipping costs to the US apply!