Nuremberg, Wolfgang Moritz Endtetr, 1684. Small 4to (20.5 x 15.9 cm). 10 pp. [numbered 15-24]; one plate with four illustrations. Extract. Marbled spine cover.

Two papers on a "giant" snake. The first paper suggests dealing with a species of Bufo(frog), but it is not. Published back-to-back in Volume 2 of the Miscellanea Curiosa sive Ephemiridum Medico-Physicarum of the Germanicarum Academiae Naturae Curiosorum. The plate, with four separate illustrations is very good, except that the artist, apparently, did not know what a water buffalo looked like, and, rather, depicted an ordinary bovine. The author of the first paper was the German physician, pharmacist, botanist, trader and Japanologist, Andreas Cleyer (1634-1697 or 1698). "Andreas Cleyer could be called a soldier of fortune.' He began as a modest soldier, and he made his fortune and reputation during the course of a career. He rose in the ranks of the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC), becoming a respected and well-known figure in the VOC's Batavian society. Cleyer, who had studied medicine and had acquired a license to practice medicine, came initially to Southeast Asia as a soldier (adelborst) of the VOC. His medical background led to a better posting as the manager of the VOC's military hospital pharmacy in Batavia and later the city pharmacy too. During this period, he also became rector of the Latin school. Author of the second, illustrated, paper was the German physician, botanist and Chinese scholar, Christian Mentzel (1622-1701). "Mentzel was the personal physician to the Prince Regent Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg. He was also a member of the Leopoldian Academy." (Wikipedia). This copy, although without owner's inscription or stamp, from the library of the renowned Swedish herpetologist Richard Wahlgrén (1946-2019). Several worm holes in the fore and top margin; the text and plate images, however, not affected. Rare. Neither author in Adler, Contributions to the History of Herpetology.