Owen, Natural History of Serpents, 1742.

OWEN, Charles. An Essay Towards A Natural History of Serpents: In Two Parts. I. The First exhibits a general View of Serpents, i their various Aspects; such as their Kinds, Bulk, Food, Motion, Propagation, Conventure, Colours. In which is inserted a short Account of Vegetable, Mineral, and Animal Poison, particularly that of the Serpent; and its Cure in various Nations; were also the Serpent is used as Food and Physick. II The Second gives a View of most Serpents that are known in the several Parts of the World; described by their various Names, different Countries, and Qualities. Illustrated with Copper-Plates, Engraved by the Best Hands. III. To which is added a Third Part containing Six Dissertations upon the following Articles, as collateral to the Subject. 1. Upon the Primeval Serpent in Paradise. 2. The Fiery Serpents that infested the Camp of Israel. 3. The Brazen Serpent erected by Moses. 4. The Divine Worship given to serpents by the Nations. 5. The Origin and Reason of that Monstrous Worship. 6. Upon the Adoration of different Kinds of Beasts by the Egyptians, with divers Instances of the same Stupidity in other Nations. The whole intermix’d with Variety of Entertaining Digressions, Philosophical and Historical. By Charles Owen D.D. London: Printed for the Author. Sold by John Gray, at the Cross-Keys in the Poultry, near Cheapside. 1742. 
 
Full brown leather, at some point rebacked. Gold text and raised bands on spine. Internal hinges repaired (presumably when rebacked). Some mild wear to leather at edges of boards. A few small, very superficial, scuffs involving the middle of the boards. Marginal toning of front and rear pastedowns. Three prior owner’s names on front paste down and ffep. One of the owner’s signatures (very large, across the front paste down) is the name of an original subscriber, listed on page x as: George Bridges Esq; Member of Parliament ... B. 2. Faint penciled check mark next to the list of plates viii (which are, indeed, all present and in their appropriate places). Very small marginal tears near top of fore-edge at pg’s 47/48 and 155/156 (far from text). Small stain at fore-edge on page 50 (far from text). Smudge on top edge of 158 and 159 (also, far from text). Extremely ill-defined and faint, thin, patchy areas of damp stain affecting top edge of many leaves (all very far from the text, and in many instances, essentially imperceptible). Plates slightly toned. Text leaves all very bright. Subscriber’s list includes a number of interesting names of men and women, including Dr. Richard Mead M.D and F.R.S, Physician In Ordinary to his Majesty. 
 
Attractively set in Roman font with large margins. Clean, bright, and tight throughout. Pages crisp. Though three different owners (including a member of Parliament) left their names in the front of the book, this copy appears to be essentially unread. 
 
Charles Owen (died 1746) was a Presbyterian minister in Lancashire. He is more well remembered as a political dissenter than theologian. One of his publications (Plain Dealing, 1715) was the subject of an indictment. He was not convicted, but incurred expenses. Most of his political publications were subsequently anonymous, but it was apparently well-known he was the author. He was a “pillar of the Hanoverian cause in the north of England during the period which followed the rebellion of 1715.” He published sermons, as well as works on dissent and schism in the church. (Dictionary of National Biography, Vol 42, 1895, pages 400 and 401). 
 
The book handles not only the natural history of serpents, but also other formidable creatures (bees, wasps, spiders, etc.), as well as the serpent’s role in theology and pagan mythology. In addition to the beautiful plates, the text is a fascinating read and marvelously quotable: 
“The Ethiopian Dragons just mentioned, have no Proper Name, and are merely known by a Periphrasis, viz. Killers of Elephants. The Method is, by winding themselves about the Elephants Legs, and then thrusting their Heads up their Nostrils, sting them, and suck their blood till they are dead” (pg 15) 
 
“Serpents...are immediately (I may say) starved when deprived of Air, which is their only winter food.” (Pg 3)  
 
“What is moral Evil but the Venom of the old Serpent? ... The Powers of Darkness that excel in Science, know how to regale the human mind...with delightful Charms; Charms that have no Existence but in a deluded Imagination.” (pg 193)
10 1/4 x 8 1/4 x 1 1/4 inches.
Ffep, blank, xviii, 240, (12), blank, rfep.