‘Archaeopteryx’
Date
1862
Creator
After
Henry Woodward (1832 - 1921, British) , Palaeontologist
Object type
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 212mm
width (print): 135mm
width (print): 135mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Study of the ‘London specimen’ the first fossil Archaeopteryx lithographica discovered in 1861 near Langenaltheim, Germany. Originally owned by Karl Häberlein, it was sold to the British Museum in 1862 and described (to the Royal Society) by Richard Owen in 1863.
Plate accompanying the paper ‘On a feathered fossil from the lithographic limestone of Solenhofen (lately acquired for the British Museum)’, by Henry Woodward, The Intellectual Observer, December 1862, pp.313-319. Inscribed below with various descriptions and their authors, commencing ‘Archaeopteryx lithographica. H. von Mayer…’
The accompanying text states that: ‘The feathers, which are most beautifully preserved upon the lower slab, were indistinct at first, being originally covered by a thin film of fine calcareous mud, which M. Häberlein removed, so as to exhibit the tail and wings, and some further portions of the skeleton itself…Professor Owen decidedly inclines to the opinion that this curious creature is a bird, but many distinguished naturalists, who have carefully examined it, have professed themselves unable to come to any such positive conclusion.’
Henry Woodward (1832-1921) British geologist and palaeontologist was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1873.
Plate accompanying the paper ‘On a feathered fossil from the lithographic limestone of Solenhofen (lately acquired for the British Museum)’, by Henry Woodward, The Intellectual Observer, December 1862, pp.313-319. Inscribed below with various descriptions and their authors, commencing ‘Archaeopteryx lithographica. H. von Mayer…’
The accompanying text states that: ‘The feathers, which are most beautifully preserved upon the lower slab, were indistinct at first, being originally covered by a thin film of fine calcareous mud, which M. Häberlein removed, so as to exhibit the tail and wings, and some further portions of the skeleton itself…Professor Owen decidedly inclines to the opinion that this curious creature is a bird, but many distinguished naturalists, who have carefully examined it, have professed themselves unable to come to any such positive conclusion.’
Henry Woodward (1832-1921) British geologist and palaeontologist was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1873.
Associated place