Pen and ink drawing of the title page of a natural history book, "Physica Curiosa". Only the upper half of the drawing is complete; it features trees, birds, a mermaid, two whales, an astronomical symbol at top right, and the title information with an elaborate curlicued border. Part of the right-hand side, featuring a llama and the top of a bull, as well as the bottom of the title border, is only partially drawn: there are outlines, but details have not yet been filled in. The lower half of the drawing lacks ink lines and has only what appear to be transfer marks from a sheet of graphite, which roughly outline more animals and a satyr. In the inked portion, the strokes are short and are less confident than one would expect for a final engraving. There are no impression marks. On the verso, the ink has leaked through variably in a fashion that suggests pen strokes; darker areas suggest spots where the pen paused. A very similar drawing was produced for an edition of the book published in 1662, although there are differences in the crosshatching and some figural details.
Text reads,
"PHYSICA CURIOSA
Ad Sereniss ac. Potentiss Principem CAROLUM LUDOVICUM, Comitem Palatinum. Rheni, S'. R. J'. Archithes. Principem Electorem, Ducem Bavari�_.
AUCTORE P. GASPARE SCHOTTO
Societatis Jesu.
MDCLXII"
