Wunderkammer - Wonder Book: A magical gift, a focal point in the bookshelf, and an excursion into the museum. The roots of our modern museums lie in the wonder chambers and cabinets of curiosities of the Renaissance. Typically located in princely courts, they gathered the knowledge of their time, brought to Europe by seafarers, adventurers, and traders from the known parts of the world: shells and corals from the South Seas, ostrich eggs from Africa, the legendary "Coco de Mer" from the Indian Ocean. The wonder chambers not only fascinated the people of their time; many museums today reconstruct the origins of their collections and offer visitors unusual perspectives and new insights through the colorful juxtaposition of historical artifacts and exotic curiosities. This volume embarks on a journey through eight centuries and across five continents.