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Kreuterbuch bestiary

Kreuterbuch by Adam Lonicer
Adam Lonicer
Franckfort am Mayn: Getruckt bey Martin Lechlern
1577
History of Medicine Library

Bestiaries in the 16th and 17th centuries served as an encyclopedia of animals for their readers.  Many such volumes included a variety of mythical beasts as well as authentic ones.  This sample from Lonicer’s Kreuterbuch features a phoenix between entries for pelicans and pheasants.