Giant Sea Serpent
Legendary monster giant sea serpent attacking a ship as depicted in 16th century on a woodcut hand-coloured print by Conrad Gessner, from a page of the third German edition of his Fischbuch, published in 1598 in Zurich.
Please note the print is of a very high resolution, however this is still an enlarged part of a restored antique woodcut print. The whole page is also available as a poster, please check our other listings.
Printed area (image as on the main picture) measures:
Extra Large poster (or Canvas) 23.7x38.2 inch / 60.3x97.1 cm (approx. same sheet size)
Large poster (or Canvas) 14.7x23.7 inch / 37.5x60.3 cm (approx. same sheet size)
Medium poster (or Canvas) 10.2x16.5 inch / 26.1x42 cm (sheet size no less than A3 / 11.7x16.5 inch)
Small poster 7.3x11.7 inch / 18.4x 29.7 cm (sheet size no less than A4 / 8.3x11.7)
Please select from drop-down box above.
Conrad Gessner (1516 - 1565) was a Swiss physician, bibliographer, natural historian, philologist and illustrator. He was born in Zurich, Switzerland, and studied languages, theology and medicine at university. Later as a City Physician he spend much of his time on collecting, research and writing. Gessner compiled monumental works on bibliography (Bibliotheca universalis 1545–1549) and zoology (Historia animalium 1551–1558) and was working on a major botanical text at the time of his death from plaque at the age of 49. He is regarded as the father of modern scientific bibliography, zoology and botany. Over his lifetime he produced some 70 publications on many different subjects. In Historia animalium Gessner combines data from old sources, such as the Old Testament, Aristotle, Pliny, folklore, and medieval bestiaries. Gessner's books were illustrated with hand-coloured woodcut prints of many well-known animals, and some fictional ones, including unicorns, mermaids and serpents.
Gessner's woodcut of a giant sea serpent attacking a ship is notably similar to one by Olaus Magnus in his History of the Northern Peoples published in 1555. This remarkable leaf depicting the sea serpent is from the third German edition of Gessner's Fischbuch, published by Christoff Froschower in Zurich in 1598. This volume contains many additional illustrations by Gessner, based on his observations as well as on work of other naturalists of 16th century.
This poster is a high quality "giclee" reproduction of a restored antique original, custom-printed on Standard Single-weight Matt Coated art paper 140gsm or Heavyweight Matt Coated art paper 230gsm (more of a thin card density), or superb Epson Matt Canvas 320gsm, according to your choice. We use the latest UltraChromeHDX pigment inks which guarantee 60 years of colour permanence (up to 200 years fade-proof for colour prints). This poster is suitable for mounting and framing, as well as direct display on a wall.
IMPORTANT: If you are going to frame this print we recommend art paper 230gsm or canvas 320gsm. The 140gsm art paper option makes sense if you wish to DIY-frame or to tack the poster to a wall without framing, due to it being lighter and more flexible. All three options are giclee prints of the same high quality.
POSTER PRINT QUALITY
Please note that our reproduction posters are made to order and every print is checked before posting. The images we use in most cases are scans of antique originals, professionally restored in order to remove the most evident stains, folds, tears and other damage. We strive to balance the restoration and saving the overall integrity and antique appearance of the original. Our restored images are unique and these prints can be purchased only from VictorianMaps.
There will be no watermark on your image but there might be a white border depending on aspect ratio of the original. Please note that when a large antique original is reduced to a smaller size print some text may not be readable. Please check our measurements: every poster has its own aspect ratio same as original and printed exactly as pictured.
SAFE SHIPPING
Prints up to A4 are placed in transparent sleeve and posted in cardboard-backed envelope, unless posted together with a larger poster. All posters larger then A4 are rolled in transparent plastic and acid-free tissue paper and placed in heavy-duty postal tube for dispatch / delivery. We do not ship posters folded.
It will be shipped by Royal Mail or other service with tracking and/or delivery confirmation. The P&P includes postage and packaging, and the excess (i.e. for A4 prints) will always be refunded. International buyers: please check the postage costs and allow extra time for overseas delivery; please be aware that the purchase price doesn't include any possible custom charges.
COMBINED SHIPPING
Shipping for multiple purchases will be combined wherever possible. In multiple item purchase, each additional item postage is charged at £1.00.
If you intend to purchase two or more items: please first put all our items in Ebay basket / cart, and you will then see a total with combined postage before checkout. For smaller prints sent in an envelope or in a shorter postal tube, postage may end up cheaper and excess will always be refunded.
REFUND GUARANTEE
We would like you to be satisfied with your purchase. If by any reason you are not happy with it, simply return it within 14 days for a full refund.
A good feedback is always appreciated and indicates you have received the item safely.
Thank you!