Kurt Gippert Bookseller

Der monatlich - herausgegebenen Insecten - Belustigung [with Kleeman's] Beytrage zur Natur - und Insecten - Geschichte.

Rösel von Rosenhof, August Johann; Rosel; Roesel; C. F. C. Kleeman

Nurenberg: Roeselischen Erben; J.J. Fleischmann, 1740. First Edition. Hardcover. Quarto (4to). Very good+ condition. Item #020286

Five volume set containing plates only; lacking all text. Contains an engraved frontisportrait of Roesel, one hand-colored engraved frontispiece, one hand-colored half-title page/frontis, and 321 leaves of beautifully hand-colored plates. Three quarter leather binding with minor rubbing and minor shelfwear; marbled paper-covered boards; circa 1850. The text is relatively clean and free of foxing, with scattered light soiling to a small number of page edges. The majority of the plates have a thin protective blank leaf bound between them. The plates measure 8.75 inches (height) by 7 inches (width) (222mm x 178mm). There is no date of publication printed on the plates, but the Rösel plates were printed between 1740-1761 and the Kleeman plates were printed between 1761-1776. PROVENANCE: Engraved armorial bookplate depicting a fist holding a twig rising from an upward crescent, and motto Mediocria Firma affixed to the front pastedown of each volume. First volume contains another simple bookplate stating "Ex Libris Oliver Howard." INCOMPLETE: Vol I: 78 plates plus colored frontis (complete). Vol. II: 74 plates plus colored frontis/half title, including 3 folding plates. LACKS plate 5 and 28 of Locusta. Vol. III: 90 plates. LACKS the frontis and plate 42 of Astacus Fluviatilis. Vol. IV: 40 plates (complete). Vol. V: 39 plates. Part I LACKS plate 10 and 41-48, and Part II LACKS plates 1-24 including plate 20 A and B. An attractive and substantial collection of plates from one of the finest German entomological publications of the eighteenth century.

Price: $6,000.00