American Entomology, or Descriptions of the Insects of North America. Vol. II
- Publisher : Philadelphia Museum: Published by Samuel Augustus Mitchell
- Published In : Philadelphia
- Illustrations : 18 hand-col plates
Description:
Illustrated by Coloured Figures from Original Drawings Executed from Nature. 1st edition. Vol. II only (of III). Pages un-numbered (collation: 2, B4-I4, K4-S4, 2), plates 19-36.
Nissen ZBI, 3612; Hagen II, p. 111; Horn-Schenkling, 19004.
Thomas Say (1787-1834) was an American explorer, pioneering natural scientist, founder of the sciences of entomology and conchology in the United States. Say's 'American Entomology' was the first book on insects to be published in the US. With fine hand-coloured plates. Besides Titian Peale, who had entirely illustrated the first volume, other artists would contribute their work to the second volume: Hugh Bridport, a painter of miniatures, associated for a time with the architect William Strikland; William W. Wood, an artist, entomologist, and publisher, and Lesueur. (Tyson Stroud, 'Thomas Say New World Naturalist', p155)
Condition
8vo in 4s, (252x155mm) rebound in 20th century cloth, spine incorrectly titled as vol. I, and corrected by hand; edges uncut, minor scattered foxing; one gathering starting. A good institutional ex-lib. copy: shelf no. to spine, ink stamps to endpaper and title; two blind stamps only (one to title), label removed from rear endpaper. Hand-coloured plates in very good condition.