Historia animalium, published in Zurich in 1551–1558 and 1587, is an encyclopedic "inventory of renaissance zoology" by Conrad Gessner. Gessner was a medical doctor and professor at the Carolinum in Z
Tiger and leopard, Book 1:Viviparous Quadrupeds
Hunting dogs, Book 1
Woodcut of a reindeer (Rangifer) with milking scene, 1551 edition
Unicorn
Bishop-fish
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The sea bishop or bishop-fish is a legendary creature first recorded in the 16th century. According to legend, it was taken to the King of Poland, who wished to keep it. It was also shown to a group o
Historia animalium (Gessner book)
…the animals. There have been various academic studies relating to Gessner's inclusion of fantastical creatures in the volumes, such as the sea monk, sea bishop, or ichthyocentaur. Gessner was aware of fakery in the curio shops market, where dried rays were manipulated to look like dragons (for example Jenny…
The bishop-fish in Johann Zahn's 1696 work Specula physico-mathematico-historica notabilium ac mirabilium sciendorum