The historie of foure-footed beastes. : Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.
The historie of foure-footed beastes. : Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.
First word of title is xylographic. Title page varies: with cut of hyena (used for sea wolf on p. 749) or of gorgon (most copies; not illustrated in the text pp. 262-3); examples of both at British Library. B1, 2, 5, 6 in 2 settings; B2r catchword: 'they'; B6r line 1: 'crowne' (Huntington Library) or 'gers' and 'Crowne' (Harvard). In some copies (one of the British Library copies, for example) there is an extra leaf after F4 with heading: 'The Picture of the vulger Bugill Folio 57.' (STC). The first leaf and the last leaf are blank. Signatures: A⁶ [par.]⁶ 2[par.]⁸ *² B-2V⁶ 3A-3X⁶ 3Y⁸.
Pollard, A.W. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, & Ireland and of English books printed abroad, 1475-1640 (2nd ed.) (STC), 24123 English short title catalogue (ESTC), S122276
Smedley. Lacking blanks. T.p. with gorgon; B2r catchword 'they'; B6r, line 1 'crowne'. S1 torn and 2K4 with burn hole, affecting text. Bd. w. Topsell, E. The historie of serpents. London, 1608 (shelf-mark STC 24124 Copy 1). 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")
Call number
STC 24123 copy 2
Folger-specific note
HH203/18. Lacking blanks. T.p. with gorgon; B2r catchword 'they'; B6r, line 1 'crowne'. Woodcuts hand-colored throughout. T.p. is backed. Sig.A made up of disjunct leaves. Formerly bd. w. shelf-mark STC 24124 Copy 2. Rebound, previously in plain calf. Provenance: Harmsworth copy
Call number
STC 24123 copy 3
Folger-specific note
cs20. Imperfect: lacking 2V5,6. Lacking first blank. T.p. with gorgon; B2r catchword 'they'; B6r, line 1 'crowne'. Sig.2A with MS. markings. Print show-through. K5 creased, and some leaves stained, affecting text. Bd. w.: Topsell, E. The historie of serpents. London, 1608 (shelf-mark STC 24124 Copy 4). 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 24123 copy 4
Folger-specific note
cs2(?). Imperfect: lacking 3X2.5 and 3Y3.6. Lacking first blank. T.p. with gorgon; B2r catchword 'they'; B6r, line 1 'crowne'. Burn hole on 3O6. B2, B6 and K4 torn and repaired, and I4, Q1, 2H6 and 3H2 torn, affecting text. Bd. w.: Topsell, E. The historie of serpents. London, 1608 (shelf-mark STC 24124 Copy 3). Calf binding with gilt centerpieces, rebacked
