MOFFET, Thomas (1553-1604) - photo 1
MOFFET, Thomas (1553-1604) - photo 2
MOFFET, Thomas (1553-1604) - photo 3

MOFFET, Thomas (1553-1604)

Lot 140
12.07.2023 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 5 670
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 993258
Lot 140 | MOFFET, Thomas (1553-1604)
Estimate value
£ 3 000 – 5 000
MOFFET, Thomas (1553-1604)

Insectorum sive minimorum animalium theatrum. London: ex officina typographica Thom. Cotes. Et venales extant apud Benjam. Allen, in diverticulo, quod Anglice dicitur Popes-head alley, 1634.

First edition, first issue of the earliest entomological book published in England. When it appeared in 1634, the Insectorum was the most accurate study on invertebrates and set a new standard, by systematically analysing their habits, habitat, breeding and economic importance. Apart from Wotton’s own work, which derived from his direct observation during his European travels, the book relied on the research of three other naturalists: Conrad Gesner (1516-1565) of Zurich, Thomas Penny (c.1532-1588) of Gressingham, Lancashire, and Edward Wotton (1492-1555) of Oxford. When Gesner died, he left among his papers an unfinished book on insects, which was eventually sold to his assistant Penny. Penny also acquired the entomological notes of Wotton, and had made some progress in combining Gesner’s and Wotton’s information before his death in 1589. Penny’s manuscript passed to his friend and neighbour Thomas Moffet, who completed it, had an engraved title (dated 1589) made for it by the engraver William Rogers (fl.1584-1604), and began negotiating for its publication at The Hague. Moffet’s negotiations apparently fell through, however, and the book was still in manuscript at his death. The Insectorum was published 30 years after Moffet’s death by Sir Theodore Mayerne (1573-1655), who having purchased the manuscript from Moffet’s apothecary Darrell, added a dedication to the royal physician Sir William Paddy (1554-1634), but did not alter the text. To reduce costs, the book appeared with woodcuts rather than engraved illustrations, and without Rogers’s engraved title. Species were not given names but only differentiated by short descriptive paragraphs; numerous woodcuts, ‘crude’ but ‘perfect intelligible to anyone tolerably skilled in the science of entomology’, facilitate the determination (Lisney p.7). Lisney identifies three issues of Insectorum, distinguished by their imprints: the imprint of the first issue reads ‘Ex officina typographica Thom. Cotes. Et venales extant apud Benjam. Allen...’; that of the second issue reads ‘Ex officina typographica Thom. Cotes. Et venales extant apud. Guiliel. Hope...’; and the third issue’s imprint simply states ‘Ex officina typographica Thom. Cotes’.. In some copies of the first issue, including the present lot, page 48 is incorrectly numbered. Garrison-Morton 288; Lisney pp.4-9; Nissen ZBI 2852; Norman 1528.



Folio (300 x 190mm). Large woodcut on title surrounded on three sides by various insects, 4 pages of woodcuts of insects at end, numerous woodcuts in text of hundreds of varieties of insects and small creatures (very clean copy with minimal staining, title-page slightly detached). Contemporary vellum, spine with gilt to brown title label (some staining). Provenance: Rev. George Reading Leath (deleted ownership inscription on front pastedown and ink inscription on front free endpaper stating sold at his auction at Royden Parsonage, 1817, and bought by:) – John Worth (of Oakley, Suffolk; inscriptions on title, and thence by descent to:) – Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, 1st Baronet (1802-1876; 'The Depperhaugh' armorial bookplate).





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Artist:Thomas Moffet (1553 - 1604)
Place of origin:Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
12.07.2023 – 12.07.2023
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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