Kjøbenhavn, Boas & Brünnich, 1799. 8vo (17.3 x 10.5 cm). Title page, [vi], 294, [ii] pp.; one large, folded, engraved plate. Contemporary full tree calf. Spine with gilt bands and vignettes, and red morocco label with gilt title. Boards with gilt dentelles; marbled endpapers. All edges gilt.

A very rare and little-known work on snakes, in 21 chapters, with emphasis on poisonous snakes and in particular those mentioned in the Bible and other ancient texts. The author, Børge Poscholan Kofod (1752-1839) was a Danish priest with a wide interest in nature and human behaviour. Adler, Contributions to the History of Herpetology, does not mention him. One of his other works was on the influence of music on man (1804). The fine plate was made by the Danish artist and engraver Georg Fahrenholtz (1758-1816). Spine and endpapers restored, otherwise a very good, clean copy in an attractive binding. OCLC reports only three copies, viz., in the British Museum, and in two Danish libraries. Neither in the Crane library, nor in Nissen ZBI. We found no auction records.