Velodona Octopus Print

This antique illustration of a Velodona Octopus is from the Valdivia Expedition, or Deutsche Tiefsee-Expedition (German Deep Sea Expedition), which was a scientific expedition organized and funded by the German Empire under Kaiser Wilhelm II and was named after the ship which was bought and outfitted for the expedition, the SS Valdivia. It was led by the marine biologist Carl Chun and the expedition ran from 1898-1899 with the purpose of exploring the depths of the oceans below 500 fathoms, which had not been explored by the earlier Challenger Expedition. The Challenger Expedition was the expedition that established modern Oceanography, prompting many other expeditions, nationally or privately funded, which would dredge the deep-sea in search of new and exotic species. Also available on Canvas with a Wooden Float Frame.