Owen, Charles. 1742. An Essay
Towards a Natural History of Serpents. Privately published,
London, xiv, 240, (12), 7 plates. HB, Marble boards, new leather
spine with five raised bands. A classic summary of snake natural
history in the 18th Century. In 1943 Arthur Loveridge wrote "With
commendable industry the erudite Owen has brought together everything
he could find regarding serpents and, in addition, a surprising
amount of matter that has nothing whatsoever to do with them.
I have nothing but admiration for Mr. Owen, who has so carefully
documented each statement and whose proof reading is almost beyond
reproach." (Scientific Monthly, 1943. 57:398-400).
Nissen ZBI 3033
The engravings in this book are not particularly spectacular nor original. Most of the illustrations were copied from Gessner's Historiæ Animalium Liber V. Qui est de Serpentium natura. which was first published in 1587. Both the text and the illustrations in Gessner's books were Copied several times over the 100+ years following their publication. In fact some of the illustrations used in Gessner's works are still being copied today; nearly 500 years after they first appeared.
Since Owen was more of a compiler of information on serpents, it is of little surprise that he copied illustrations from other sources. Much of the text is from other sources as well and some of it dates back into the 16th Century. Owen's use of a wide variety of sources make this book an interesting historical perspective on how serpents were viewed in the mid 18th Century. It also explains the almost humorous juxtaposition of very accurate statements, with totally absurd statements.
 Plate I |
 Plate II |
 Plate III |
 Plate IV |
 Plate V |
 Plate VI |
 Plate VII |
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