The Great Land Sea Serpent

The Great Land Sea Serpent

Unknown artist

Wood engraving

9 x 6 inches

The Puppet Show 2 (1849): 87

The serpent’s currency as a satirical tool that was nevertheless infused with mystery and menace is reflected in this design. Though ridiculous, the creature, which is figured as a serpentine train, is shown gobbling up investors. Mythological monstrosity is thus applied to current events and becomes a mechanism of topical observation.

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  • Victorian Cryptozoology: The Great Sea-Serpent and its Cultural Representations

    • Image capture and text by Simon Cooke.

    [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]