Before receiving major commissions that would produce masterpieces now familiar around the world, Charles R. Knight would often illustrate articles from 19th century and early 20th century periodicals like McClure's Magazine and The Century. A thrilling example was the 9-page stunner entitled "Strange Creatures Of The Past -- Gigantic Saurians Of The Reptilian Age", by William H. Ballou, which appeared in the November, 1897 issue of The Century and carried what must then have seemed almost incredible depictions of The Flat Tailed Plesiosaur, The Spoonbill Dinosaur, The Horned Dinosaur, The Amphibious Dinosaur, Ram Nosed Mosasaur, and The Armored Dinosaur. Ironically, the latter is described on the same page as both "king of the forest" and "harmless". (Science popularizers hadn't yet learned to pick one story and stick with it.)

Following is but a small sampling of what you will find on David Goldman's Early Images web site, a collection of illustrations from popular sources published prior to 1923.