Conrad Gesner - Historia Animalium - 1558

Rare original 16th-century zoological woodcut depicting a Great White Shark, from Conrad Gesner's celebrated Historia Animalium.

Zürich, Froschauer, 1558.

This striking illustration depicts Gesner’s famous interpretation of a Great White Shark (traditionally referred to in the Latin text as Canis carcharias or Lamia). In the Renaissance era, naturalists struggled to accurately reconstruct apex marine predators from dried jaws, skin segments, and the imaginative lore of sailors. As a result, this magnificent creature is rendered with distinctly mammalian features, prominent dog-like teeth along its spine, and a curved, serpentine body—perfectly capturing the fine line between early scientific observation and mythical sea monster imagery.

Conrad Gesner is considered the father of modern scientific bibliography, zoology, and botany.
He was a polymath, physician, philosopher, bibliographer, philologist, natural historian, and illustrator from the Renaissance who devoted most of his time to collecting, researching, and writing. He compiled monumental works on bibliography (Bibliotheca universalis, 1545-1549) and zoology (Historia Animalium, 1551-1558). These woodcuts were published in the so-called "Fischbuch," dedicated to fish and marine animals.

Dimensions: 34,5 x 22 cm

Good condition, a small spot and an old crease.