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https://exhibits.library.illinois.edu/s/rbml/item/3926
- Title
- The wonders of geology
- Description
- As the frontispiece for Gideon Mantell’s Wonders of Geology (1839), John Martin drew a geohistorical scene that depicts the ancient reptilian iguanodon, which Mantell had recently discovered in the Weald region of southeast England. This illustration is based in part on direct field observations and reconstructions from the rock record of the iguanodon’s ancient environment, as we can see depicted by the estuary in the background. But the image sacrificed a degree of scientific accuracy (Mantell had accurately identified iguanodons as herbivores) to create a more dramatic scene that would boost book sales. The dual objectives of this sketch show the power of geohistory in the early 19th century to both retrodict former worlds and capture the public imagination.
- Call Number (click link to view in library catalog)
- 550 M31W1839
- Authors
- Mantell, Gideon Algernon
- Full Title
- The wonders of geology; or A familiar exposition of geological phenomena; being the substance of a course of lectures delivered at Brighton.
- Date
- 1839
- From the Exhibit
- In Search of Lost Time: Fossils and the Record of Previous Worlds
- Publisher
- Rolfe and Fletcher
- Location
- London
- Language
- English
- Rights
-
This item is the physical property of the Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, may reside with the materials' creator(s) or their heirs.
The Rare Book & Manuscript Library's reproduction and publication policies are available here: https://www.library.illinois.edu/rbx/collections/reproduction-services/. The library welcomes requests for reproductions made from works in our collections, though restrictions may apply to certain materials. Please contact the library with any questions at askacurator@illinois.edu. - Type
- Text
- Edition
- 3rd edition
- Medium
- Book
- Bibliographic Citation
- Mantell, Gideon. Wonders of Geology. London: Rolfe and Fletcher, 1839.