In the scope of a valorisation and of a detailed evaluation of the natural history collection of the Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum, a taxonomic revision was conducted during the years 1999 and 2000, and a provisional catalogue was made. However, until this evaluation, the historical value of some rare and noteworthy specimens, collected by Prince Albert I, was forgotten. Some old and recent references allowed to point out this historical value. The second step for this valorisation is the present summary of the history of this chondrichthyan collection. It consists of 484 specimens representing 75 species. The oldest one was deposited in 1886 by Prince Albert I. Indeed, a quarter of the present specimens in the collection arise from historical oceanographic expeditions, mainly those conducted by Prince Albert I in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea (1884-1915). Other rare and endangered species collected in the Mediterranean Sea by local fishermen compound additional and precious testimony of the past local fauna.