Reptile Engravings from José García de Arboleya’s Manual de la Isla de Cuba, 1852 and 1859

José García de Arboleya. 1852. Manual de la Isla de Cuba: Compendio de su Historia, Geografía, Estadística y Administración. First Edition. Imprenta del Tiempo, Calle de Cuba, No. 110. Havana. 382 pp. Second edition 1859, 418 pp.

 José García de Arboleya (? – 1876) was a prolific author on the history, customs, government, industry and people of Cuba during the middle of the 19^th Century. His books detail nearly every aspect of Cuban life, and were prime source material for business and government officials traveling to, moving to, or soon to be stationed on the island. His Manual de la Isla de Cuba was popular in its day, going through many printings in two editions. The book contains some information on natural history, but it focuses mostly on the exploitive use of animals as food or for trade goods.

 With regard to reptiles, both editions of the book contain two unattributed engravings under the title Reptiles de la Isla de Cuba, that of a majá (Epicrates angulifer) and a Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), within a single 12 x 7.7 cm outlined box (Fig. 1). In the first edition, the plate is located between pages 165-166, whereas in the second edition it is located between pages 172-173. There are no other herpetology illustrations.

Fig. 1. Engraving entitled “Reptiles de la Isla de Cuba” from the 1859 edition of Manual de la Isla de Cuba.

 The first edition of the book includes two short paragraphs on reptiles (p. 165), briefly mentioning the Cuban Crocodile (as a cocodrilo or caiman – cocodrilus rhombifer), the higuana (iguana cyclura harlam, = Cyclura carinata Harlan, 1824), the majá, el jubo (tropidophis melanurus), and el jubito (urotheca dumerilii). These paragraphs are not repeated in the second edition. Turtles are described using the same wording on p. 168 (first edition) and p. 173 (second edition):

En reptiles son ricas estas aguas: entre las várias especies de tortugas cuya delicada carne es unramo interesante de abasto, se cuentan el carey chelonia mydas y la caguama (ehelonia caouana cephalo.) De las conchas del carey se proveen las peineterías de la Isla y se exportan anualmente 8033 libras, por valor de 15 á 16000 pesos. De las conchas de caguama que son bastante inferio res solo se exportan de 200 á 400 libras al precio de 5 reales una;  pero  sus huevos son muy apreciados:  con ellos se llenan unas  tri pas en forma de longaniza,  que despues de  curadas se venden con mucha extimacion, llamándose vulgarmente huevas de caguama. En los rios tenemos tambien la jicotea ó galápago, cuya carne se aprecia.

These waters are rich in reptiles: among the various species of turtles whose delicate meat is an interesting branch of supply, the hawksbill chelonia mydas (= E. imbricata) and the loggerhead (chelonia caouana cephalon, = Caretta caretta) are provided. The shells of the hawksbill are used to make combs, and 8,033 pounds are exported annually from the island, worth 15 to 16,000 pesos. Of the loggerhead shells, which are quite inferior, only 200 to 400 pounds are exported at the price of 5 reales each; but their eggs are highly valued: they are used to fill a tripe in the shape of a longaniza [a sausage flavored with indigenous spices], which after cured is sold with much esteem, commonly called loggerhead roe. In the rivers we also have the jicotea or galápago, whose meat is appreciated.

Both editions of the book are available online through the Hathi Trust.  

Submitted by: C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.

 

 

Bibliotheca Herpetologica 15(9)

Honegger, R. E. 2021. The frogs of Christoph Froschauer (ca. 1490–1564), the first printer of Zurich. Bibliotheca Herpetologica 15(9):101–105. Published September 2, 2021.

The serpent in advertising – from ancient Greece to the 20th century - Part 2

 Matthias Kuechler

The abuse prevention of the harmful drug alcohol is fairly often advertised with snakes as the symbol of that evil "liquid. (Fig. 13–15). Snakes are generally regarded as dangerous and therefore are an ideal metaphor for the sad results of the abuse of alcohol. But to their rescue of honor now an example of their more positive properties (Fig. 16). Here people think more of cuddling than of killing. Snakes have earned this, even if it goes beyond the time scope of this article. 

Finally, within the field of medicine, there is the infamous snake oil. For this product, snakes are not only the advertising icon but also supply the main ingredient. At least on the bottle label. Snake oil supposedly originate with Chinese immigrant laborers constructing the transcontinental railway during the 1860s. It was shared with their American counterparts, who were more than happy with its pain–relieving effects. And some advertising (Fig. 17–19) certainly helped its success American wide. But the advertised real snake oil contained in most cases everything except snake oil. Here are the results of the laboratory testing of such a mixture mineral oil, 1% fatty oil (assumed to be tallow), capsaicin from chili peppers, turpentine, and camphor. If you survive that cocktail, no other illness can harm you! And there is a strange and rare example where snakes (or better one snake: the Aesculapian Snake – Zamenis longissimus) are used for promoting tourism (Fig. 20–21). 

The small German village Bad Schlangenbad was – and still is – famous for its thermal springs and mild climate. And it is one of the three isolated habitats in Germany where the Aesculapian Snake occurs. Today, it is certain that this snake is an autochthonous relic and has not been introduced by the Romans. And I was not yet able to find additional examples – before the 1950s – of snakes posing for touristic ads. It is not surprising that politicians have jumped on the possibilities serpents offer to them to advertise them as representatives for evil and dangerous opponents. In that context, it does not matter what kind of political belief (left or right) is behind (Fig. 22–24). In 90% of the cases, the snake stands for the opposing party / the villains. The observant reader will have noticed that the artist of the American war poster has added a toad for good measure—the complete herpetology under the boot. To my astonishment, the theme of eroticism was near completely absent. (That changed drastically during the second half of the 20th century. But that's another story.) Apart from some decent ads with snake charmers (Fig. 25–26) in sideshows and circus events, there were no further commercial ads with that background. And finally, two examples for using elegant snake symbols (and the addition of pretty women certainly helps, okay a bit of eroticism creeps in) for advertising a product that leads to severe addiction and, in the end, will cause damage to your body. Tobacco! (Fig. 27–28). Here the serpent functions as a temptress for leading people astray. And that works, as I have experienced myself 50 years ago. But in the market for tobacco products, snakes play only a minor role. Their herp relations – especially frogs and crocodiles/alligators – are featured there more than10 times as often. I hope that this angle of looking at herps in general and here focused on snakes, even if it is not based on serious science, will show an interesting and fascinating aspect of herpetology. I started my research, when I saw a wine label with a nice frog on it during a dinner meeting. I didn't expect to find much more, but I found more than 2,000 herpetological motives for all kind of products and services. And it continues.

Fig. 13. Russian “War Against Alcohol“ campaign poster 1954 - 1958.

Fig. 14.  Cinema poster ( Germany / Berlin ) 1920. At the time the Marmorhaus ( house of marble) was closed down in 2001, it was the oldest movie theater (opened 1913) in Berlin.

Fig. 15. A newspaper ad in the San Francisco 1903. At her time that lady was quite popular.

Fig. 16. Pharmacy sign, Friedberg in Germany, approx. 2005.

Fig. 17.  St. Jacobs Oil was a turpentine-ether-alcohol tincture with 2% of Aconite. Production was started 1845 in the US by the German immigrant August Vogeler and distributed US wide under A. Vogeler & Co., Baltimore. It was used for pain relief.

Fig. 18.  Just one of many “Pure Snake Oil” ointment ads. This one is from Portland, Oregon, approx. 1890.

Fig. 19. Another example of the (in-)famous „Pure Snake Oil“ cure-all patent medicines, early 1900s.

Fig. 20-22. And there is a strange and rare example where snakes ( or better one snake: the Aesulapian Snake - Zamenis longissimus ) are used for promoting tourism. See the 3 postcards from 1903, 1927 and 1950s respectively. The small German village Bad Schlangenbad was - and still is - famous for its thermal springs and mild climate. And it is one of the three isolated habitats in Germany, where the Aesculapian Snake occurs. Today it is quite certain, that this snake is an autochthonous relic and has not been introduced by the Romans.

Fig.23.  “Down with Bolshevism“ propaganda poster ( right wing parties and military ) during the German revolution 1919. The revolution finally led to the abdication of the German emperor.

Fig. 24. American war poster 1942 - 1945. The two snakes are representing Germany and Japan, the toad stands for Italy. Source : UNT Libraries Government Doc. Dept.

Fig. 25. Cartoon published by Harper's Weekly1863. It shows the attack of the Peace Democrats - also called Copperheads - who opposed the war policy of the Union strongly.

Fig. 26. Austrian picture postcard (1898) of Semona, the famous snake charmer also known as “Fire Amazon“.

Fig. 27. Poster ad for the snake charmer Nala Damajanti performing in the famous Folies Bergere ( variety theater ), Paris 1887

The serpent in advertising – from ancient Greece to the 20th century Part 1

Matthias Kuechler

The title of this article will raise a few eyebrows – snakes and advertising – how does that fit? But it fits indeed. In ancient Greece, the snake was a symbol of medicine. Throughout medical history, the snake appeared wrapped around a staff (Rod of Asclepius Fig. 1) or with a bowl (Bowl of Hygieia Fig. 2). So, the serpent became an advertising icon for sick people who looked for medical help. Health insurance was not yet available. This symbol was so powerful that it has survived quite unchanged through the centuries, as two German pharmacy signs (Fig. 3–4) from the second half of 1800 and a tourist voucher for the German health spa Bad Sulza (Fig. 5) show. Also, in direct marketing" of medical products, snakes started to play a smaller role at the beginning of the 19th century. Here they stood for the positive (healing) aspect (Fig. 6–8) as well as for the harmful (aggressive, sickening) side (Fig. 9–11). Especially the anti–vaccination polemic (Fig. 12) experiences an ad rebirth today.

Fig. 1. Asclepius with his serpent-entwined staff ( 4^th century BC, temple in Epidaurus, Peloponnese) Today it can be found in the Archaeological Museum of Epidaurus.

Fig. 2. Hygieia (goddess of cleanliness and sanitation), Italy, either Ostia or Rome, 2^nd century AD Roman copy, after a Greek original of 360 BC. Today it is in the W. R. Hearst Collection.

Fig. 3. Pharmacy sign "Old Pharmacy 1864," a 156 years old pharmacy in the German city of Bottrop.

 

Fig. 4. Pharmacy sign, Germany - exact location is unknown. The pharmacy doesn't exist anymore, the sign is kept as a pure decoration.

Fig. 5. A tourist voucher dated 1921 of the German health spa "Bad Sulza“. Against this voucher the entrance fee was reduced by the amount stated on the voucher ( 75 Pfennig - today a pittance, but at this time a considerable amount).

 

Fig. 6. Patent medicine advertisement by Wells, Miller, and Provost, New York 1849.

Fig. 7. Germany, approx. 1920 - pharmacists ( here Mr. Queisser ) at this time still used to mix most of the salves and ointments on their own. The advertising vignettes were then put on the packages like stamps.

Fig. 8. This advertisement from 1888 by Sackett & Neat, New Albany, Indiana speaks quite clearly for itself. Again we find Hygieias bowl and the snake.

 Fig. 9. Here the German company "Disinfection Factory" in the town of Dresden advertises its products : General Disinfectant, Insectizides and a special disinfectant Christmas edition with conifer scent. That got them an award on an international fair in Rome 1912.

 

Fig. 10. Public education campaign poster published by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Comité national de défense contre la tuberculose, between 1918 and 1920.

Fig. 11. Advertisement in an Australian  newspaper late 19^th century. Bitters originally developed as patent medicine ( cured everything, probably even the effects of snake bite!), but today is mostly used as a digestif.

Fig. 12. Anti-vaccination (against smallpox) cartoon, UK 1894, source : The Historical Medical Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

Continued in next post.