Title: Skulls of Plesiosaurus hawkinsii and Plesiosaurus macrocephalus

Creator: Drawn and lithographed by George Scharf

Description: Plate comparing the skulls of two species – Plesiosaurus Hawkinsii and Plesiosaurus macrocephalus. Mary Anning (1799-1847) had found the fossil of a juvenile Plesiosaurus macrocephalus at Lyme Regis in December 1830, which was the first of its species found. It was 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.

From: Owen, R. “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).

Date: 1838

Format: Lithograph

Image reference: 27-07

Recommended print size: Up to 16 x 12 inches (40 x 30cm)