DONOVAN, Edward (1768-1837) - photo 1
DONOVAN, Edward (1768-1837) - photo 2
DONOVAN, Edward (1768-1837) - photo 3
DONOVAN, Edward (1768-1837) - photo 4
DONOVAN, Edward (1768-1837) - photo 5
DONOVAN, Edward (1768-1837) - photo 6

DONOVAN, Edward (1768-1837)

Lot 152
12.07.2023 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 2 772
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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Archive
ID 993325
Lot 152 | DONOVAN, Edward (1768-1837)
Estimate value
£ 2 500 – 3 500
DONOVAN, Edward (1768-1837)

The Natural History of British Insects. London: printed for the Author; and sold by F. & C. Rivington, 1792-1813.

Fine, complete set of first issues of Edward Donovan’s comprehensive guide to the complex and diverse world of insect life in Britain. This handsome, unsophisticated copy, once belonging to writer William Danby (1752-1833), was originally intended to be published in ten volumes in 1801. However with Donavan’s acquisition of additional specimens and two complete cabinets of insects, the decision was taken to continue the series and a further 6 volumes were published from 1806 onwards. Organized into sections that cover various habitats and environments found around the British Isles, each description is accompanied by a highly detailed engraving, that provides visual illumination of the species’ physical characteristics, behaviour and ecological role. Donovan’s comprehensive work not only reflects the growing interest in the natural world from the general public, it equally reflects the emergence of the field of entomology as a distinct scientific discipline. BM(NH) I, 473; Lisney 351, 352, 357, 360, 362, 365, 369, 372, 375, 378, 381, 384, 386, 388, 390, 392, 394; Nissen ZBI 1142.



16 volumes, octavo (230 x 140mm) printed on wove royal paper. Half-titles to vols. XIII-XVI as called for, alternative title to vol. I, bound with 7 preliminary leaves at end of vol. X, single errata leaves in vols. II, III, V, VI, VII and XIll, advertisements for the author's other works at end of vol. IX. 576 fine hand-coloured engraved plates, by and after Donovan (occasional light browning or spotting to plates and text, vol. II tear to the postlim due to production fault, vol. XI pp. 33-34 with a tiny hole with loss to page numbers due to production flaw, vol. XIII plate 448 with minor production flaw). Contemporary red straight grained half morocco gilt, the flat spines divided into six compartments by single fillets, lettered in the second, numbered in the fourth, the others with either vase or flower-spray tools, vols. I-X carry marbled papers in light grey, vols. XI-XVI have darker grey boards (extremities slightly rubbed). Provenance: William Danby (1752-1833, Swinton Park, Yorkshire, inscriptions in nine volumes, dated between 1793-1802).





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12.07.2023 – 12.07.2023
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