Unicorn, 17th century. Unicorns were still being included as potentially real animals in natural history books despite the revelation that the horn ca

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Unicorn, 17th century. Unicorns were still being included as potentially real animals in natural history books despite the revelation that the horn came from the narwhal (Monodon monoceros). This illustration is by Swiss-born German engraver Matthaus Merian the Elder (1593-1650). It is a hand-coloured copperplate engravings from 'Historiae Naturalis' (John Jonston, Amsterdam, 1657-65).

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Size: 5246px × 3331px
Photo credit: © PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 1, 1600s, 17th, animal, beast, biological, biology, century, color, colour, fabulous, fauna, historiae, historical, history, horn, horned, illustration, john, jonston, legendary, matthaus, merian, monoceros, myth, mythical, mythological, narwhal, natural, naturalis, nature, onager, single, unicorn, white, wildlife, zoological, zoology