Ichthyosaur Collection (page 5)

1819 Everard Home naming ichthyosaur
Sir Everard Home (1756-1832) 1819 letter to arctic explorer William Scoursby discussing his own forthcoming naming of Proteosaurus (ichthyosaur) on the basis of its cupped vertebrae

1819 Sir Everard Home icthyosaur letter
Sir Everard Home (1756-1832) contemporary portrait engraving and letter to arctic explorer William Scoursby discussing his naming of Proteosaurus (ichthyosaur)

Conybeare Plesiosaurus reconstruction
1824. Composite of letter and wrapper written by William Conybeare regarding his first scientific reconstruction of the skeletons of plesiosaur and ichthyosaur

Sir Everard Home Portrait Natural Science
Sir Everard Home (1756-1832) contemporary engraving with later hand colouring. Home was the first president of the Royal College of Surgeons and studied under John Hunter (who married Homes sister)

1823 First complete Plesiosaur fossil
" Skeleton of the Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus discovered in the Lias at Lyme Regis in 1823" Folded triple quarto plate XLVI drawn by T. Webster after original by Mary Anning

1834 Guerin engraving Extinct animals
This 1834 steel engraving with contemporary hand colouring is the earliest coloured reconstruction of extinct fossil animals. It is from Guerins Dictionnaire pittoresque Vol 1. plate 24

Cupped ichthyosaur vertebrae Everard Home
Ichthyosaur Vertebrae in cross section, copper plate illustration from a paper by Sir Everard Home in the Transactions of the Royal Philosophical Society

1840s Geologist Henry De La Beche
Swantype (cleaned) 1840s Portrait mezzotint of Henry Thomas De La Beche (1796-1855), a geologist famous for his cartoon and humorous representations of early fossil finds and fellow geologists

Ichthyosaur skull and paddle Everard Home
Copperplate engraving from a paper in the Transactions of the Royal Philosophical society by Sir Everard Home describing the first ichthyosaur discoveries. See other photos in this collection

Cupped Ichthyosaur vertebra Everard Home
Ichthyosaur Verterbra copper plate illustration from a paper by Sir Everard Home in the Transactions of the Royal Philosophical Society

Ichthyosaur skeleton engraving 1819 Home
First scientific illustration of a complete ichthyosaur skeleton. Copper fold-out engraving at life size, (2.5cm ammonite top right for scale). It comes from a paper by Sir Everard Home in 1819

Conybeare Plesiosaurus letter & portrait. Conybeare Plesiosaurus letter & portrait
Left: Portrait William Conybeare age 65. Right: 1824 letter from William Conybeares re his first scientific reconstruction of the skeletons of plesiosaur and ichthyosaur

Ichthyosaur paddle Everard Home 1819
Ichthyosaur paddle copper plate illustration from a paper by Sir Everard Home in the Transactions of the Royal Philosophical Society 1819

Diver and prehistoric life, artwork
Diver and prehistoric life. Animals shown here include a plesiosaur (upper right), an ichthyosaur (upper left), ammonites (centre right), and a Dapedium fish (orange and blue, lower right)

Mesozoic reptiles, artwork
Mesozoic reptiles. Artwork of some of the dinosuars and flying and marine reptiles that inhabited the Earth during the Mesozoic Era (251 to 65 million years ago)

Extinct Plesiosaur
PLESIOSAUR and ICHTHYOSAUR fight it out in shallow water, watched by creatures of the land

Ichthyosaurus, with Plesiosaur and Pterodactyls
An Ichthyosaurus, with a Plesiosaur and Pterodactyls in a prehistoric landscape

Ichthyosaurus
An ichthyosaurus, whose name derives from the Greek words for fish and lizard

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In 1855, the Punch Dinosaurs Crystal Palace exhibition showcased a fascinating array of prehistoric creatures, including the awe-inspiring ichthyosaur. This ancient marine reptile, along with its counterparts like the Plesiosaurus and Pterodactylus, captivated visitors with their otherworldly features. The story of the ichthyosaur dates back to 1814 when Mary Anning discovered the first skull of this extinct creature. Since then, it has become an iconic museum piece, representing a bygone era in Earth's history. The British fascination with prehistoric marine reptiles continued in 1862 when a collection dedicated solely to these magnificent creatures was unveiled. The exhibit featured various species such as Ichthyosaurus acutirostris and showcased their intricate details through meticulous reconstructions. However, not all depictions were accurate or well-received. The infamous "Awful Changes" cartoon depicted these ancient reptiles in comical and exaggerated ways that deviated from scientific accuracy. Despite this misrepresentation, it highlighted society's growing interest in paleontology during that time. Another notable portrayal can be found in Reynolds' book "The Antidiluvian World" published in 1849. This publication provided detailed engravings showcasing breathtaking scenes like the epic battle between Plesiosaurus and Temnodontosaurus (Oligostinus), capturing readers' imaginations and sparking further curiosity about these long-extinct beings. Today, we continue to marvel at these incredible creatures that once roamed our oceans millions of years ago. The legacy of the ichthyosaur lives on through fossils carefully preserved in museums worldwide – reminding us of Earth's rich history and inspiring future generations to explore our planet's mysteries beneath its vast waters.