W. Wood J.O. Westwood - Index Entomologicus, A Complete Illustrated Catalogue of the Lepidoprerous Insects - 1853

100 EUR

Beautifully illustrated 2 volume set, one with catalog and the other with 58 handcoloured steel engravings, with on average over 35 butterflies and moths illustrations to each plate.

Westwood (1805-1893) was one of the most prominent entomologists of his era with rare artistic talent.

He was born in Sheffield, England , from a modest working class background. He trained to be a lawyer instead he pursued his deep interest in entomology.

Westwood had a very close friendship with Frederick William Hope, that was a very important British intellectual and also “father in Entomology" of Charles Darwin. Westwood and Hope shared a deep interest in entomology, collecting a wide selection of geographically arranged specimens. Westwood was assiduous in purchasing even small collections which he recognised as being important: extremely rare and prized were the specimens of his Australian insects.

The collection was donated to Oxford, and today is one of the most important of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Westwood was very eclectic. He published – among other - “The Cabinet of Oriental Entomology; Being a Selection of Some of the Rarer and More Beautiful Species of Insects “(1848), “An Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects”(1839), “British Moths and Their Transformations “,“Arcana Entomologica”(1845).

His works are always illustrated with extremely decorative entomological plates. He drew himself the richly painted scenes of insect and plant life, always artistically arranged. His illustrations– mostly depicting exotic species – are superbly detailed and enhance the beauty of rare insects.

This complete two volume set is handsomely bound in half natural leather with gilt lettering decoration to the spines, very good and bright (This is the publisher's standard leather binding).

Contents clean and tight, original marbled end-papers, no inscriptions, slight spotting mostly to the paper guards, plates very clean.

Exceedingly rare complete set.

We describe all items as accurately as possible with any condition exceptions noted. Please use your judgement to confirm our accuracy and take into consideration that unless otherwise stated, these items are used. Chiudi

Luogo: Emilia-Romagna - Parma

Aggiunto a 29 giorni fa e scade il 9 July
ID annuncio: 474586
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