ILLUSTRATIONS OF NATURAL HISTORY. Wherein are exhibited Upwards of Two Hundred and Forty Figures of Exotic Insects, According to their different Genera; Very few of which have hitherto been figured by any Author, Being engraved and coloured from Nature, with the greatest Accuracy, and under the Author's own Inspection. On Copper-Plates. With a particular Description of each Insect: Interspersed with Remarks and Reflections on the Nature and Properties of many of them. To which is added, a Translation into French. Three volume set.
London: Printed for the Author, and sold by B. White, at Horace's Head in Fleet-street, 1770. First Edition. Hardcover. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. Very good+ condition. Item #020419
Three volume set, complete with 151 engraved plates, of which 150 are in hand color. The plates are mostly by and after Moses Harris, with two plates by P. Mazell after M. Garlside. Published 1770-1782. Original contemporary leather spines and corners with moderate shelfwear, including weakening of the hinges (which remain intact) and wear and craquelure to the surface layer of the spines. Paper-covered boards with variegated gray on gray decoration, with minor rubbing, minor soiling, minor staining and minor discoloration. Evidence of a obscured blind stamp in the margin of all three title pages, and evidence of bookplate removal on the inside front cover of all three volumes. Small stain to the margin on one plate (pictured). While there is the occasional small ink stain or minor soiling to the text, and some of the paper of the plates is evenly and only slightly toned, this full-margined copy which remains in the original contemporary bindings is a remarkable survival. Text is in English and French. Index, errata and addenda to the first volume bound with those present in volume two. Each volume contains 50 hand-colored plates. Vol. I: xxviii, 130 pages of text. Contains one uncolored schematic engraved plate facing page xxxv. Vol. II: vii, [i] blank, 90 pages of text, followed by [iv] pages of indexes. Vol. III: xxvi, 76 pages of text, followed by [ii] pages of index. Height of pages: 299mm. Height of binding: 304mm. Width of pages: 238mm. Width of binding: 245mm. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Nissen ZBI 1160. A superior copy of the first edition of this important work.
Price: $12,500.00