Title: Skull of an ichthyosaur painted with fossil sepia

Creator: Probably Elizabeth Philpot (1780-1857)

Description: Mary Anning (1799-1847) discovered fossilised ink sacs belonging to belemnites (an extinct cephalopod) in the 1820s. Its powdery fossil ink or sepia could be reconstituted into a drawing medium.

The specimen depicted in the sketch appears in a similar drawing in fossil sepia by Anning’s fellow fossil collector and Lyme Regis resident Elizabeth Philpot (1780-1857) which was sent to Mary Buckland (wife of William Buckland) in December 1833. The specimen was from Philpot’s collection.

Presented to the Geological Society by Henry Thomas De la Beche, 25th March 1834.

Date: [1833-1834]

Format: Paper painted with fossil sepia

Archive reference: LDGSL/642

Image reference: 03-09

Recommended print size: Up to 20 x 16 inches (50 x 40cm)