The Written And Printed Word



SPECULUM MUNDI

John Swan, 1635
{Width: 5-1/4"; Height: 7"; Thickness: 1-1/4"}

     The entire title is as follows: SPECULUM MUNDI OR A GLASSE REPRESENTING THE FACE OF THE WORLD, SHEWING BOTH THAT IT DID BEGIN, AND MUST ALSO END: THE MANNER HOW, AND TIME WHEN, BEING LARGELY EXAMINED. Whereunto is joyned an Hexameron, or a serious discourse of the causes, continuance, and qualities of things in Nature; occasioned as matter pertinent to the work done in the six days of the Worlds creation. Aug, in Ser. de Ascen. Qui Se dicit scire quod nescit, temerarius est. Qui se negat scire quod scit, ingratus est. This copy comes from the First Edition, printed by the University of Cambridge.
     This book by John Swan, and English doctor and theologian, presents a history of the world's creation, and attempts to explain how the various things came into existence. It is divided into sections according to the six days of Creation. The various physical and natural things which are in existence are described as being created according to the theological discussions presented in the Hebrew Bible.
     The book is very delightful to read, even today, because of its, often quaint, descriptions of plants and animals and all the other things that comprise natural history. The author not only described animals of which we are currently familiar, but also animals which were mythical and fictional, including mermaids, gryphons and dragons.
     This particular copy is missing a few pages at the beginning, and was, at some fairly recent time, rebound with a cardboard/cloth cover.

     Below is an image showing the reference to the Dragon.