A 1796 copperplate engraving depicting "the Caput Medusae or Magellanic Star-fish" from the Encyclopaedia Londinensis, a "universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature" edited by John Wilkes and published in London in a series of volumes. A beautiful engraving I think, with these very dense webs of tendrils evoking all sorts of things, and very fine micro detail. Nice rich black, too.
10 3/4" x 8 3/8", copper engraving on wove. With horizontal folds original to it and a bit of a shadow image on the paper, either from the folding or from an adjacent page.