The historie of serpents. Or, The second booke of liuing creatures : wherein is contained their diuine, naturall, and morall descriptions, with their liuely figures, names, conditions, kindes and natures of all venemous beasts: with their seuerall poysons and antidotes; their deepe hatred to mankind, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, and destruction. Necessary and profitable to all sortes of men: collected out of diuine Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: amplified with sundry accidentall histories, hierogliphicks, epigrams, emblems, and aenigmaticall obseruations. By Edvvard Topsell.
The historie of serpents. Or, The second booke of liuing creatures : wherein is contained their diuine, naturall, and morall descriptions, with their liuely figures, names, conditions, kindes and natures of all venemous beasts: with their seuerall poysons and antidotes; their deepe hatred to mankind, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, and destruction. Necessary and profitable to all sortes of men: collected out of diuine Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: amplified with sundry accidentall histories, hierogliphicks, epigrams, emblems, and aenigmaticall obseruations. By Edvvard Topsell.
First word of title is xylographic. Signatures: A-V⁶ 2A-2H⁶. The first leaf is blank. Leaves 2E3,4 are in two settings: 2E3v line 18 has either (1) "waters, as in a Boate." or (2) "in a boate." (STC).
Cited/described in
Pollard, A.W. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, & Ireland and of English books printed abroad, 1475-1640 (2nd ed.) (STC), 24124 English short title catalogue (ESTC), S122051
Smedley.2. Lacking blank. 2E3,4 in setting 2. With: Topsell, E. The historie of foure-footed beastes. London, 1607. Rebound, previously in calf; all edges gilt. Provenance: armorial bookplate of Frances Mary Richardson Currer; bookplate of the Huth library; bookplate of W.T. Smedley (motto "forward")
cs2(?).2. Imperfect: lacking S2.5, with duplicates of S1 and S6 bd. in. 2E3,4 in setting 1. Burn hole on Q3. N3r and 2D1v stained, affecting text. With: Topsell, E. The historie of foure-footed beastes. London, 1607. Calf binding with gilt centerpieces, rebacked
Call number
STC 24124 Copy 4 Bd.w. STC 24123 copy 3
Folger-specific note
cs20.2. Imperfect: lacking M1.6, P1 and 2F6. Lacking first blank. 2E3,4 in setting 2. With: Topsell, E. The historie of foure-footed beastes. London, 1607. Rebound, previously in 19th cent. half calf; all edges sprinkled. Provenance: armorial bookplate of P. Ashburnham (motto "le roy et l'estat") [Ashburnham family library]; bought by Folger at the Percy Ashburnham sale, Nov. 1897, lot 239
Call number
STC 24124 copy 5
Folger-specific note
cs99. Imperfect: t.p. torn and repaired, affecting text; lacking C1, O6 and 2H3. Lacking blank. 2E3,4 in setting 2. Scattered MS. notes. Burn hole on M1. Sigs.P-R with tail and fore-edge margins repaired, and 2H6 frayed and repaired, affecting text. Printed waste used to repair tear on I5. Rebound, previously in sheepskin. Provenance: inscription on t.p.: "Henrie Rainsforde [?]"; inscription on A4r: "James Murdoch 1788" and MS. lettered leaf bd. in as front fly-leaf: "James Murdoch, Born in the Parish of Urquhart Sept'r 13th Anno 1756. Died May 16th 1815, Aged 59 Years."; bought by Folger from Bangs, 24 Sept. 1902, no. 297
