The Natural History of British Insects. [Plates Only]
- Publisher : F. & C. Rivington
- Published In : London
- Illustrations : 574 (of 576) engraved plates (567 hand-coloured)
Description:
Four volumes including the plates only from Donovan's important sixteen-volume work British Insects (first issued 1792-1813). This set includes a total of 574 (of 576) finely engraved plates of which 567 are hand-coloured and 7 are of microscopic organisms and are always uncoloured. The missing plates are nos 446 (Papilio brassicae) and 467 (Musca vibrans and Musca quadristrigata).
Edward Donovan (1768-1837) was a natural historian and artist. He devoted his time and fortune to forming a large collection of natural history specimens and compiling a number of books on the subject, the illustrations of which were drawn and coloured by himself. 'Although the plates are not signed they were drawn and probably engraved by the author. Only a few are plain and if Donovan did not colour the remainder in all copies himself he no doubt supervised the work. … The plates in all the issues of each volume were printed from the same set of blocks.' (Lisney, p 257). Donovan's main interest was entomology.
Horn-Schenkling, 4949; Nissen ZBI, 1142; Lisney, pp 260-277.
Condition
4 vols, 8vo, cont. half-morocco, gt, rubbed/scuffed, teg, some fading to spines. Contemporary manuscript index loosely inserted. Most plates are clean and bright, a small number with some spotting, light foxing, browning or offsetting.