Natural history of the insects of China, containing upwards of two hundred and twenty figures and descriptions.
Eur 4,800 / USD 5,000
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A new edition, brought down to the present state of the science, with systematic characters of eachspecies, synonyms, indexes, and other additional matter, by J.O. Westwood. London, H.G. Bohn, 1842. 4to (285 x 230 mm). pp. (6), 96, with 50 handcoloured engraved plates. Contemporary red half morocco, gilt lettered spine with 5 raised bands, top edges gilt.
the most beautiful book published on the insects of China
The second and last edition of the most beautiful book published on the insects of China. The first edition was published in 1798. Edward Donovan (1768-1837) published a number of fine illustrated zoological works and 'was particularly fond of using bright colours in his plates' (Buchanan, Nature into Art p. 179). "The colours are lavishly applied, as was common with Donovan's work - often described as 'gems of colour' ... Donovan did not travel to China himself, but obtained most of his information of Sir George Staunton ... who travelled extensively in China and made some natural history collections and observations, which he conveyed to naturalists in England" (P. Gilbert, Butterfly collectors and painters p. 138). "Donovan owned what must have been one of the most extensive natural history collections of the time, housed in his private museum, the well-known London Museum and Institute of Natural History" (M. Salmon, The Aurelian Legacy p. 130). Most of the plates depict butterflies together with exotic plants. A fine copy of this attractive work.
Nissen, ZBI 1143; B.M. (Nat. Hist) I, p. 473.