[Butterflies] An exposition of English insects including the several classes of Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, & Diptera, or bees, flies, & libelullæ Exhibiting on 51 copper plates near 500 figures, accurately drawn, & highly finished in colours from Nature

London: Sold by Mr. White, bookseller, in Fleet-street, & Mr. Robson, in New Bond street, 1782. Quarter-Calf. Near Fine+. Tall uncut Second Edition (First Issue, with hand-colored allegorical frontispiece of sylvan scene with various insects and animals at foot of pedestal holding statue of Ceres and catchword on p. 40 corrected) of this classic of eighteenth-century entomology. Royal 4to (317 x 240mm): [2],viii,9-166,[4]pp, complete with 50 delicately hand-coloured plates, depicting more than 500 individual moths, dragonflies, damselflies, bees, wasps, and other insects drawn from life, engraved, and colored by Moses Harris; engraved calligraphic title page, and uncolored engraved plate with numbered parts of insects keyed to explanations in the Preface. Text in English and French in double columns. Contemporary quarter green calf, original flat spine (very skillfully relaid) in six compartment divided by gilt bands, title direct to second compartment in gilt, marbled boards. Previous owner 's name (Catherine Sharpe) to top of title page. Scattered spotting to pages and plates, lightly and evenly toned, p. 29 with neatly repaired tear, but an excellent unsophisticated copy, entirely uncut, in handsome period binding. Lisney 242. Nissen ZB1838. Agassiz III, p. 191. Freeman 1557. British Bee Books 129. First published in 1780 (but dated 1776), many copies of which include the color wheel plate. But according to Lisney, none "of the ideal copies which I have examined . . . contains the colour chart which, in my opinion, only occurs in made-up copies of this edition." Harris, a gifted, self-taught entomologist, was considered "the best painter and engraver of insects of his day." (Quaritch, 2557) His most famous work, The Aurelian, was published in 1766, followed by English Lepidoptera in 1775. An Exposition was the first book to provide scientific descriptions and accurate illustrations of several species of dragonfly and damselfly. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).