Thesaurus Entomologicus Oxoniensis; or, Illustrations of New, Rare, and Interesting Insects, for the most part contained in the collections presented to the University of Oxford by the Rev. F.W. Hope

Description:

First edition. Rare. The 40 fine plates are from drawings by the author. 31 plates are partly or wholly hand-coloured (1-9, 15-36) (the plain plates were never coloured).

John Obadiah Westwood (1805–1893) was an English polymath - renowned entomologist, talented artist, distinguished palaeographer, prolific writer. He was known as one of the greatest experts on Anglo-Saxon and medieval manuscripts, as well as one of the greatest entomologists of his time. He wrote and illustrated many of the most important entomological works of the nineteenth-century, his ‘Entomologist’s Text Book’ (1838) became known in Germany as ‘the Entomologist’s Bible’.

Westwood was one of the founder members of the Entomological Society of London in 1833, and was elected President on three occasions. In 1824 Westwood met Frederick William Hope (1797–1862), naturalist, great insect collector, and major entomological institution-builder. Hope became Westwood's patron, and engaged him for one day each week to arrange Hope's insect collection. Around 1849 Hope decided to donate his collections and library to Oxford University and was keen to establish a new chair of zoology there to be called the Hope Chair of Zoology. The department would be based at the new University Museum whence the Hope collections and library would also be transferred. In 1861 Westwood was nominated by Hope and appointed as first Hope professor of zoology; in turn the Hope department of zoology was founded. Furthermore, in line with Hope's recommendations, Westwood took up the curatorship of the Hope entomological specimens.

The present book encapsulates the decades-long collaboration between Hope and Westwood. Written and illustrated by Westwood, it offers a fascinating selection from the Hope Entomological Collection of Oxford University Museum ‘in a manner worthy both of the donor and the University’, highlighting rare and interesting insects in the collection.

‘… the Groups of Goliathidae and Cremastocheilidae have been selected; a complete Monograph of the latter being given […] Of the singular family Paussidae upwards of fifty Species are figures for the first time, together with many other curious Coleoptera. Many remarkable Groups and Species, belonging to the Orders Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, Neuroptera, Hemitptera, and Lepidoptera, as well as several singular Apterous Groups, are also given. […] The Plates are engraved and coloured from drawings and dissections prepared by myself’ (from ‘Advertisement’)

Nissen ZBI, 4382; ODNB; M. Salmon, 'The Aurelian Legacy' (2000).

Condition

4to, cont. half morocco, marbled endpapers, t.e.g., some light rubbing. Small blank book-label to pastedown, single cancelled ink stamp to verso of titlepage. Very good copy.