Title: Plesiosaurus macrocephalus from Lyme Regis
Creator: George Scharf
Description: This fossil of a juvenile Plesiosaurus macrocephalus, was the first of its species found. It was discovered by Mary Anning at Lyme Regis in December 1830 and named by William Buckland in 1836. William Willoughby, Lord Cole, later Earl of Enniskillen (and Fellow of the Geological Society), purchased the fossil in 1831 for the then massive sum of 200 guineas. The specimen is now housed at the Natural History Museum.
Original artwork for the paper by Richard Owen, “A description of Viscount Cole’s specimen of a Plesiosaurus macrocephalus”, Transactions of the Geological Society of London’ 2nd series, vol 5, pp515-535 (1838), plate 43.
Date: [1838]
Format: Watercolour
Archive reference: LDGSL/108
Image reference: 03-06
Recommended print size: Up to 20 x 16 inches (50 x 40cm)