Illustration from Olaus Magnus’ Opera Breve, 1539 Venice, showing a man and wife hunting on skis. A guard stands near, also on skis; he holds a staff or pole with a disk at one end and a spear point at the other. The skis, which have no tails, were depicted by an Italian artist who may never have seen the devices. Reproduced in The British Ski Year Book, 15, 33, (1952), 63