Specialists Pick: Snakes in a Frame

Occasionally our specialists discover a selection of items that deserve longer in the spotlight than our Latest Stock page allows. This time around, print expert Graham Hilleard, has brought to your attention a selection of snake engravings produced by Eighteenth century journalist John Wilkes.

The Dart Snake of Ceylon

By the time John Wilkes got around to producing these engravings, his method of choice; copper engraving, was largely defunct as copper plates were being replaced by steel which was a far hardier choice of material.

The Great Rattle Snake

Life Consuming Viper

These engravings would, at the time, have been the only accessible source of information relating to snakes available to the laymen. The snakes are depicted at rest, with prey or entwined.

Viper and Cobra Entwined

Keen herpetologists will observe that the snakes in these engravings are fatter than the average 20th century snake. There is little evidence to suggest that modern snakes have a more restricted diet than their Eighteenth century counterparts. The reason these portly snakes appear to have enjoyed a more salubrious lifestyle is likely due to the fact that John Wilkes had never personally seen a Cobra or Rattle Snake in real life. His wonderfully artistic observations were based on stuffed, or over-stuffed, taxidermy or imported snakeskins

Water Viper

Crotaline and Coronated Viper