The Dragon Traders by R. Michael Burger.
 
 A Collective History of the Reptile Trade in America and the Age of Herpetoculture. In The Dragon Traders, Michael Burger provides not only a description of the animal trade, but goes back in time to the beginnings of the commercial presentation of reptiles. Crocodile-farming and the display of rattlesnakes were early sources of income, but soon enough indigenous animals were no longer spectacular enough and exotic ones had to be obtained for display. This marked the birth of the international animal commerce. The interest in reptiles subsequently took an ever-firmer hold in the private sector, where exotic wild-caught animals eventually lost their appeal to rare captive-bred morphs. In an effort to satisfy the demand (which is a rather strange word to use for living beings) breeding installations became ever more professional, of which the one run by Mark and Kim Bell ("Megabreeders" in the text) is a good example. The book features detailed photographic material, illustrating the subject from early croc farms via the first zoos with reptile displays and the first terrarium fairs right to modern breeding installations. Individual species that have played major roles in this development are discussed in greater detail. Aside from historic illustrations, Burger also provides selected reproductions of early publications.