A first French edition of Munster's Cosmography, 1552. Though defective, this copy still bears the double woodcut of the Sea of Monsters, one of my favorite 16th century woodcuts [2048x1536]

The American Rattle Snake, attributed to James Gillray. British, April 12, 1782 [3704 x 2490][OS]

From a recent flea haul an original 1897 woodblock print by Chikanobu Toyohara, Japan..[4032x2731]

Carolingian miniscule writing as seen in the Codex Parisinus Latinus 8071, Late 9th century [2846x3081]

Colourful paint pigments preserved in their original pots, from Pompeii in Italy [2048x1013]

Detail of a Maya Knot, carved into a stone statue from Chichén-Itzá. Early postclassic 1000-1250 A.D. [3927x3023].

A steam-powered elevator in the house of Guard Captain S. Muyaki in St. Petersburg, Russia. Circa 1902-1903 [1080x1568]

Predynastic Egyptian Hippopotamus Figurine, Naqada I (4000 to 3500 BCE) [800×530]

Made of bronze, Roman lamp (lucerna) in the shape of a griffin. The object is dated to the 4th century CE and was found in Serbia. [960x692]

Stone palette. China, Shang dynasty, 14th-11th c. BCE. National Palace Museum, Taiwan, nr. 626 [950 x 660]

Early Naqada II Egyptian necklace with lapis lazuli imported from Afghanistan by Mesopotamian traders, circa 3500 BCE [800×1200]