Vintage Conchology Prints (Seashells) by John Mawe

I have curated a collection of beautiful 19^th Century Conchology prints (seashells) by the British Mineralist John Mawe, from several of his scientific books.

Conchology is the study of mollusc shells only and not the whole organism. Conchologists are basically scientific seashell collectors (freshwater shells too!). For this reason, it is often considered an old fashioned science. As the scientists are only interested in the shell and not the organism inside it. But often this was only part of an exotic organism that was available for them to study.

John Mawe, (1764-1829) wrote the first recognised books on the science of conchology, The Voyager’s Companion or Shell-Collector’s Pilot, & The Linnæan System of Conchology.

The Linnaean system is a scientific way of identifying and classifying specials of animals purely based on their physical similarities. It consists of a hierarchy of taxa, from the kingdom to the species.

Vintage conchology illustrations and prints

The Printable Conchology Prints

These beautiful seashell posters and prints are all in the Public Domain. This means that you are free to print and use them how you wish.

Just click on the title above the shell poster you want to print. A high-resolution image of that seashell poster will open as a new window in your browser. You can then save this image to your device for printing.

Many of the following conchology illustrations are from various editions of “Wodarch’s introduction to the study of conchology: describing the orders, genera, and species of shells: with observations on the nature and properties of the animals and directions for collecting, preserving, and cleaning shells”, by Wodarch, Charles; John Mawe; Crouch, Edmund A.

1. Plate 1 Multivalve and Bivalve seashells

Multivalves are shells with several valves such as Chitons, Lepas and Pholas. Bivalve shells have two hinged valves, they include razor shells, scallops muscles, oysters, cockles and clams.

1 Chiton Squamosus – Scaly Chiton.
2 Lepas Anatifera- Duck Barnacle.
S Lepas Balaiioides – Smooth Acorn Shell.
4 Pholas Dactylus- Prickly Piercer.
5 Mya Truncata- Abrupt Gaper.
6 Tellina Feroensis- Brindled Tellen.
7 Pinna Pectinata- Muricated Pinna.
8 Solen Sanguinolentus – Pink or Rosy Solen.
9 Solen Legumen – Pease-pod Razor Shell.
10 Mytilus Modiolus – Tulip Muscle.
11 Anomia Ephippium – Common English Anomia.
12 Ostrea Opercularis – Common English Pecten.
13 Area Noae – Noah’s Ark.
14 Chama Gigas -Furbelowed Clam.
15 Spondylus Gaedaropus – Thorny Oyster.
16 Venus Chione – Smooth Brown Venus.
17 Donax Denticulata -Toothed Wedge Shell.
18 Mactra Stultorum – Common English Mactra.
19 Cardium Edule – Common Eatable Cockle.

Conchology print mulitvalve and bivalve seashells

2. Plate 2: Univalves With A Spiral

20 Argonauta Argo- Paper Nautilus.
21 Nautilus Pompilius – Chambered Nautilus.
22 Nautilus Spirula – Spiral or Crozier-headed
Nautilus.
23 Conus Virgo, or Tessel- Mosaic, or Tessellated
latus pavement Cone.
24 Conus Ebraeus – Hebrew Cone.
25 Conus Textile Embroidered -Cloth of
Gold Cone.
26 Cypraea Arabica Nutmeg – Cowry.
27 Cypraea Moneta -Tnissed-fowl, or Black- a- moor’s-tooth Cowry.
28 Cypraea Mus – Mouse Cowry.
29 Bulla Terebellum – Auger, or Borer Bulla.
30 Bulla Naucum – White Bulla, or Dipper.
31 Bulla Lignaria – Wood-grain Bulla.
32 Voluta Utriculus – Common Olive.
33 Voluta Musica – Music Volute.
34 Voluta Episcopal – Bishop’s Mitre.
35 Voluta Persicula – Pigmy Volute.
36 Voluta Tornatilis – Mouse-ear Volute.

3. Plate 3 Conchology Prints

37 Buccinum Patulum – Common, or Wide-mouthed Scoop.
38 Buccinum Dolium- Ribbed Tun.
39 Buccinum Areola – Draft-board Helmet.
40 Strombus Auris-Dianse – Ass’s-ear Alatus.
41 Strombus Pes-Pelicani – Pelican’s-foot Alatus.
42 Murex Tribulus – Thorny Woodcock.
43 Murex Neritoideus – Mulberry.
44 Murex Ramosus – Aculeated Triplex.
45 Trochus Perspectivus – Staircase Trochus.
46 Helix Ampullacea – Apple Snail.
47 Helix Cornea Ram’s-horn Snail

4. Plate 4 Univalve Seashells

48 Turbo Bidens Two-toothed Turbo.
49 Turbo Petholatus-Ribband Turbo.
50 Nerita Virginea – Guinea-hen Nerite.
51 Nerita Plicata – Plaited Nerite.
52 Hahotis Tuberculata – Common Ear Shell.
53 Haliotis Asinum – Ass’s-ear Shell.
54 Haliotis Tuberculata -Outside view of fig 52.
55 Patella Perforata – Perforated Limpet.
56 Patella Vulgata- Common Limpet.
57 Patella Fissura – Cracked Limpet.
58 Patella Sinensis – Chinese bonnet Limpet.
59 Patella Equestris – Cup and-saucer Limpet.
60 Dental ium Striatulum – Striated Tooth Shell.
61 Serpula Aquaria – Watering-pot Serpula.
62 Teredo Navalis – Common Ship Worm.
63 Sabella Belgica -Granulated Sabella.

5. Plate 5: Showing the hinges of Bivalves and other Peculiarities

1 Internal view of the Donax Scortum, shewing the hinge.
2 Internal view of the Solen Siliqua, shewing the hinge.
3 Internal view of the Solen Vespertinus, shewing the hinge.
4 Internal view of the Ostrea Isognomon, shewing the hinge.
5 Internal view of the Pholas Dactylus, shewing the teeth.
6 Internal view of the Pinna Pectinata,
7 Internal view of the Mactra Stultorum, shewing the hinge.
8 Internal view of the Mytilus Hirundo.
9 Internal view of the Mya Aurita, shewing the hinge.
10 Trochus Conchyliophorus, shewing its singular propensity of collecting and affixing shells to itself.
11 Variety of the above, sometimes called the Mineralogist, because it collects stones.

Wodarchs-introduction-to-the-study-of-conchology_plate-5

6. Plate 6 Conchology Print

1 Mylilus Edulus, shewing the beard or byssus.
2 Teredo Navahs, shewing the shells imbedded in the wood, which they have perforated.
3 Variety of the Murex Lotorium, shewing its hairy epidermis.
4 Helix Ampullacea, partially covered with its epidermis.
5 Variety of Ostrea Varia, shewing a Serpula adhering to it.
6 Venus Meretrix, shewing the anterior slope.
7 Area Glycimeris, shewing the inside and the hinge.
8 Cardium Lineatum, shewing the inside and the hinge.
9 Internal view of the Anomia Sella, (in a young state), shewing the triangular hinge.
10 Internal view of the Tellina Virgata, shewing the hinge.
11 Internal view of the Spondylus Gaedaropus, shewing the hinge.
12 Internal view of the Chama Cordata, shewing the hinge.
13 A group of Lepas Tintinnabulum.
14 A group of Lepas Anatifera, shewing the peduncles and tentacula.

Wodarch's introduction to the study of conchology_plate 6

The next group of vintage conchology prints are from “The Linnæan system of conchology : describing the orders, genera, and species of shells arranged into divisions and families : with a view to facilitate the student’s attainment of the science” by Mawe, John; Crouch, Edmund A., lithographer;