WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750) - photo 1
WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750) - photo 2
WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750) - photo 3
WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750) - photo 4
WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750) - photo 5

WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750)

Lot 185
12.07.2023 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 3 024
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 993180
Lot 185 | WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750)
Estimate value
£ 2 000 – 3 000
WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750)

The English Moths and Butterflies: together with the plants, flowers, and fruits whereon they feed and are usually found. [Edited, arranged and prefaced by Henry Baker]. London: printed for and sold by Benjamin Wilkes, [1749?].

First edition with fine hand-coloured plates. Wilkes' work illustrates all three stages of each specimen's development, and each plate is carefully designed with an artist's eye for layout, and also shows each insect with its food plant. Wilkes formed 'his own collection of English lepidoptera, making sketches of the various stages in the life histories of many species as possible. Encouraged by Mr. Joseph Dandridge, ... Wilkes decided to begin publication of the notes on the native lepidoptera which he had compiled over a period of ten years, illustrating these with his own drawings'. Paul Whalley quotes a letter from Henry Baker to William Arderon dated 17 August 1749. 'I am pleased to find the trifles I sent you proved all agreeable. The Natural History of Butterflies is in some sort my own child, having myself compiled it and put it in the order it is now, from Mr. Wilkes memorandums, he being indefatigable in his observations and faithful in the minuting down every particular but for the want of learning quite incapable of writing a book' (see J. Soc. Biblphy. nat. Hist. [1972] 6 [2]: 127). Engelmann p.557; ESTC T32700; Hagen p.289; Lisney pp.121 and 185; Nissen ZBI 4410.



Large quarto (304 x 252mm). 2pp. subscribers' list, 120 fine hand-coloured engraved plates after Wilkes of butterflies and moths among plants and flowers (occasional light spotting and browning, some light stains). Modern brown morocco, spine in compartments with raised bands gilt.





Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve. No VAT is payable on the hammer price or the buyer's premium for this lot. Please see the VAT Symbols and Explanation section of the Conditions of Sale for further information
Artist:Benjamin Wilkes (? - 1749)
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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Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

WILKES, Benjamin (fl. 1742)
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£1 000

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