Scheuchzer & Van der Aa - Hairy Serpent with Two Tails, Legs, and Face of Mammal. 9

Scheuchzer & Van der Aa - Hairy Serpent with Two Tails, Legs, and Face of Mammal. 9
This fascinating engraving is from Johann Jakob Scheuchzer's travelogue entitled Ouresiphoites (graece) Helveticus, sive Itinera per Helvetiae Alpinas Regiones facta annis [1702-1711] Plurimis tabulis aeneis illustrata. This is from the second edition (but first complete edition) published in Leiden in 1723 by Van der Aa.

The travelogue was noted for its city views of Switzerland which are primarily after Matthaeus Merian and among the best produced by Van der Aa. The views include in the work are of Altdorf, Baden, Bern, Chur, Fribourg, Glarus, Lausanne, Luzern, Rapperswil, Sion, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thun, Zürich, and others. The work also included engravings on mythical creatures, mountain and river profiles, minerals, botanicals, and zoological images. While mostly a very scientific work, he does make anecdotal evidence of dragons.

Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (1672-1733) was a Swiss physician and natural scientist. He was a founder of paleobotany and European paleontology, as well as a professor of mathematics and physics. He believed the Old Testament was a factual account of the history of the world and set out to reconcile the Bible with modern sciences and thus prove the existence of God through Science which he explored in his work, Physica Sacra.

Pieter van der Aa (1659-1733) was a Dutch cartographer, publisher, and book seller. He was appointed to the bookseller trade from the age of 9 and went on to own a bookshop and auction house. He published many maps in his time, and became best known for his atlases on exploration and noted voyages. Much of what he published was composite atlases in which he utilized many other publishers plates and prints including Carel Allard and Frederik De Wit as well as his own work.


Paper Size: ~ 6 3/4" by 8 3/4"


Paper Type or Special Features: Engraving with Professional Hand-coloring

The work is in very good to excellent condition. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint fox marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.