Pl.5 Antique Print of the Cusk Fish Gaimard (1842)

Description: Antique print, titled: 'Poissons Plate 5 - Le Brosme (Gadus brosme).' - This rare plate shows the cusk or tusk (Brosme brosme), a North Atlantic cod-like fish in the ling family Lotidae. It is the only species in the genus Brosme. Other common names include brismak, brosmius, torsk and moonfish. From: 'Voyage en Islande et au Groenland' by M. Paul Gaimard, published in Paris 1842.

Artists and Engravers: Made by 'Victor' after 'Acaric Baron'. Paul Gaimard (1793-1858) served on board the Uranie under Freycinet during his circumnavigation of the world, and was partly responsible for the zoological studies published as a result of that voyage. He later served under Dumont d'Urville on board the Astrolabe during the La Perouse search expedition in 1826-1829. Gaimard's voyage to Iceland embarked in 1835 in search of the expedition of Jean de Blosseville from whom nothing had been heard since 1833. No trace was found, but the present work is the result of Gaimard's extensive travels through Iceland, and contains many fine views.