Bonhams 1793 : ALBIN (ELEAZAR) A Natural History of English Insects. Illustrated with a Hundred Copper Plates, Curiously Engraven from Life, 1720

A Natural History of English Insects. Illustrated with a Hundred Copper Plates, Curiously Engraven from Life: And (for those who desire it) Exactly Coloured by the Author Eleazar Albin, Painter, first edition, 99 hand-coloured engraved plates after drawings by the author (of 100, lacks plate 21), each with accompanying text leaf by W. Derham, list of subscribers, toning and light spotting throughout, neat early ownership inscription ("CHP: Gnlz Hillier. ex Bib: Edward Green, Chirurgas"), bookplate of William Hillier, 4th Earl of Onslow (1853-1911, Governor of New Zealand), modern morocco gilt preserving original red morocco spine [Nissen ZBI 58; Freeman 45; Lisney 119], 4to (283 x 228mm.), for the Author, 1720

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Footnotes

"Each plate is dedicated to a subscriber or well-known personality, undoubtedly those who acted as patrons or took an interest in Albin's drawings of insects" (Lisney). Albin was keen to stress that his work was accurate in its depictions as he "observed it as a great fault in those who have gone before... that they either did not look often enough at their Pattern, or affected to make the picture outdo Nature" (Preface).

Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

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