Monster Collection (#92)

To Arms, Britons! First World War propaganda
" Arms, Britons! Avert These Horrors: The Triumph of Science and Efficiency." A typical propagandist reminder to the British of what they were fighting for, this brutish German soldier

Monster Cactus at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1845
Engraving of a monster cactus (Echinocactus Stainesii) housed in the collection of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey in 1845. Date: 4 January 1845

Scylla, the Sea monster

Tacky Blackpool
The Monster from the Bowels of the Earth, one of the attractions on offer, along with palm reading, hamburgers, tattooing, on the Golden Mile, Blackpool, Lancashire, England Date: late 1960s

Milton / Comus 1634
And they, so perfect is their misery, Not once perceive their foul disfigurement, But boast themselves more comely than before. Date: First published : 1634

The Legend of the Tabernacle Chief
The intrepid Angel Eblis, protector of the portable dwelling place of the divine presence, is depicted preparing to battle a monstrous crocodile, also known as the devourer of humanity. Date: 1890s

Man escaping a sea monster
Copy of a painting of a man escaping a sea monster. 1867

Hercules strikes Cacus, and view of Rome
Page of text with marginal drawings. At the top in the left margin is a picture of Rome. In front of the city stand two men, one of whom is wearing armour. There are birds flying over their heads

Hercules strikes Cacus
Page of text with marginal drawing, showing Hercules with a large club about to strike at Cacus (the bearded man on the right) who is pulling a bull backwards by the tail. 1543

Still from early animated short film
A still from an early animated short film - very much in the style of a young Walt Disney! - depicting a couple in a small boat being blown forward by a sea monster

Blackpool Sands Competition
A Sandcastle building competition on the famous beach at Blackpool, Lancashire, England. This entry is a SENSATIONALLY fabulous sea monster, complete with limbs

Pinocchio Nearly Eaten

Scots Lake Monster
The reverends Twopeny and Macrae, and their two daughters, saw this creature in Loch Hourn, Scotland, for two days in succession Date: 20-21 August 1872

PTOLEMAIC WORLD MAP, 1493. Ptolemaic world map, including depictions of Noahs sons, Japhet, Shem and Ham, progenitors of the human race in Judeo-Christian tradition

APOCALYPSE. Locusts. Illumination from the Apocalypse of St.s ver, France, mid-11th century
APOCALYPSE. Locusts. Illumination from the Apocalypse of St. S© ver, France, mid-11th century

Sculptures of Asuras (demonic monsters) at gate tower of Khmer temple, South Gate, Angkor Thom, Siem Riep, Cambodia

Computer illustration of the Loch Ness Monster

Bogeyman. Computer artwork of a mythical creature from fairy-tales and folklore known as a bogeyman or bogey. It is said to be an evil and mischievous spirit

Megalodon prehistoric shark with human
Megalodon shark, computer artwork. A human swimmer is shown at top at the same scale. This enormous shark (Carcharodon megalodon) lived between around 20 and 1.2 million years ago

Megalodon prehistoric shark with elephant, artwork. Megalodon, Carcharocles (Carcharodon) megalodon, lived between around 20 and 1.2 million years ago, and is known from fossils

1560 Gesners Salzberg Satyr
Gesner woodcut with contemporary colouring from " Icones Animalium" Publ. Christof Froschover, Zurich, 1560. Gesner illustrates a creature captured in the forest of Hanesbergium in

1560 Gesner man faced tree sloth
From Conrad Gesners " Icones Animalium" published by Christof Froschover, Zurich, 1560. This strange animal is derived from an early conquistador spanish image representing a three toed

1855 Dinosaur nightmare of Crystal Palace
" The effects of a hearty dinner after visiting the Antediluvian Department at the Crystal Palace" from Punch, Volume 28, 1855

1883 Fanciful fossil museum of the future
Recognisable fossils vie with the fantastic in this imagined collection of a thousand years in the future. Copperplate engraving by F. Meaulle. published in 1883

1886 Flammarions Iguanodon dinosaur
From Flammarions " Le Monde avant la Creation de l Homme". This is the first dinosaur (Iguanodon) reconstruction to put them in modern context to reveal their size

1627 A Beast Called Su, colour
1627 Woodblock engraving in the text. From Sebastian Munsters account of the New World from the Cosmographia. German edition of 1627 dealing with the navigation of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego

1825 Watertons Taxidermy Nondescript
1825 " A Nondescript" drawn by T.H. Foljambe engraved on copper (with later tinting) by I.W. Lowry, being the frontispiece to Charles Watertons " Wanderings in South America" J

1820-1830 Early Geologist fossil cartoon
An unrecorded, possibly unique print by E.S - F.G.S (Fellow of Geological Society) in mezzotint style with contemporary hand colouring and ink inscription

1560 Gesner Whale attacks ship
Whale attacking ship. Woodcut with old colouring. Gesner " Icones Animalium" publ. Christof Froschover, Zurich, 1560

1560 Gesner mermaid sea monster
Satyrus marinus - a sea monster of partially human form. Woodcut with old colouring. Gesner " Icones Animalium" publ. Christof Froschover, Zurich, 1560

1554 Gesner shark attack on man with ray
Sharks attacking a man, with a ray coming to help. Woodcut with old colouring. Gesner " Icones Animalium" publ. Christof Froschover, Zurich, 1560

1868 Punch cartoon of mammoth nightmare
Cartoon from Punch December 1868 by Du Maurier. The legend to the cartoon notes that Louis Figuier (author of " La Terre avant le Deluge" 1862 which had been recently translated to English)

15th Century German woodcut print. Historical print of mythical sea creatures - from top: a bull, a dog, and a horse - from Hortus sanitatis (the origin of health), Johann von Cube (1491)

16th Century French engraving. Historical print of a mythical sea-horse from De aquatibilus, Pierre Belon (1580)

16th Century German woodcut print. Historical print of a mythical Sea devil from Fischbuch, Conrad Gessner (1598)

Fever and ague, satirical artwork
Fever and ague. Satirical artwork of representations of fever (central monster) and ague (creature wrapped around patient at left)

1662 Schott Orangutan, hypertrichosis
I Hairy man who walks on his hands" & II " wild woman in Java" (can be traced back to Topsell & Gessners similar images)

1673 Cryptozoology Mapinguari, mylodon
1673 Albertus Montanus copperplate from the German edition of his Dutch " The New World". A strange creature being pursued by colonials in the jungles of Brazil

1558 Gessner Sea Serpent & ship full page 1558 Gessner Sea Serpent & ship full page
1558 Conrad Gessner Volume 4, Sea Serpents from his " Historia Animalium". Later hand colouring. Italic marginalia by contemporary scholar

Woodcut of two dragons
Woodcut illustration showing two dragons. This illustration is taken from Deux livres de venins by Jacques Grevin, published at Antwerp in 1568

1662 Schott deformities real and imagined
I " Long eared man", II " Boy without a mouth" III " human with an arm/tube mouth", IV " One eyed man", V " Man with no head"

1627 A Beast Called Su
1627 Woodblock engraving in the text. From Sebastian Munsters account of the New World from the Cosmographia. German edition of 1627 dealing with the navigation of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego

1558 Gessner Sea Serpent attacks ship cu

1558 Gessner Sea Serpent devouring a ship
1558 Conrad Gessner Volume 4, Sea Serpents from his " Historia Animalium". Later hand colouring. Italic marginalia by contemporary scholar

1662 Schott Demons
XXVI " Winged and horned monster resembling Cacus (the giant son of Vulcan), XXVII " Winged and clawed monster with a birds clawed foot"

1682 Bible Hydra - Beast of Apocalypse CU
1682 Engraving Pieter van de Borcht from " Bybelsche figuuren". See Gessners hydra. Revelation (Apocalypse) CHAPTER 13 And I stood upon the sand of the sea

Harpy, 19th century artwork
Harpy. Artwork of a Harpy, an animal from Greek mythology. Artwork from France, circa 1810-1820

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"Unveiling the Legends: Exploring the Monstrous Marvels of Myth and Cinema" An infamous image of the Loch Ness Monster emerges from the depths, captivating our imagination with its elusive presence. The Papyrus of Ani (Book of the Dead) - The Judgement reveals ancient beliefs surrounding monstrous creatures and their role in the afterlife. As a Kraken attacks a ship amidst a raging storm, fear grips sailors' hearts, reminding us of humanity's vulnerability against nature's colossal forces. Boris Karloff's haunting portrayal in James Whale's Bride of Frankenstein (1935) brings to life an iconic monster that continues to captivate audiences even today. A giant octopus stretches its tentacles across our screens, showcasing nature's incredible diversity and reminding us that they can come in unexpected forms. The enigmatic Loch Ness Monster resurfaces once again, leaving us pondering over its existence and fueling our fascination with mysterious creatures lurking beneath serene waters. GODZILLA roars onto the scene, embodying mankind's fearsome creations turned against them as we witness epic battles between towering monsters and human civilization. Lon Chaney mesmerizes audiences as he dons his chilling mask in Rupert Julian's The Phantom of the Opera (1925), revealing how monstrosity can be born out of tragedy and unrequited love. Amidst a tempestuous storm, a Kraken unleashes chaos upon unsuspecting ships, serving as a reminder that legends often find their origins within treacherous tales told by seafarers throughout history. Through enchanting silhouette animation in The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926), mythical beasts take center stage alongside heroes on daring quests, weaving together folklore and fantasy into one mesmerizing tale. The legendary Lochness Monster resurfaces yet again.