WILKES, Benjamin (fl. 1742)

Lot 186
12.07.2023 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Vendu
£ 630
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Lieu de l'événementRoyaume-Uni, London
Commissionsee on Website%
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ID 993214
Lot 186 | WILKES, Benjamin (fl. 1742)
Valeur estimée
£ 1 000 – 1 500
WILKES, Benjamin (fl. 1742)

Dedication to the worthy members of the Aurelian Society ... Twelve New Designs of English Butterflies. London: for John Bowles & Son, by Benj. Wilkes, June 15, 1742.

First edition, second issue, of an extremely rare book. According to Lisney ‘It is unlikely that this work was distributed bound as a volume, but the plates were probably set out on Wilkes's stall for sale either singly or in sets of twelve’. It occupies a unique place in English natural history, in that the plates are composed with decorative, rather than didactic effect, with the subjects arranged in a geometric fashion. An exact number of copies held by institutions is very difficult to determine because states of issue are not recorded accurately, but we have only been able to trace one complete coloured copy at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington; the Wellcome Collection appears to hold a partially coloured defective copy, and they do not state issue. BM(NH) Suppl. VIII, 1434; Freeman British Natural History Books 3997 (issue not stated); Lisney 182.



Folio (470 x 305mm). Engraved title, and 12 plain plates by H. Roberts after B. Wilkes, dated 1741-42, loose as issued (titled browned and torn with some loss, old tape repair to verso; the plates with stab holes to upper blank margin, some stains, plate 12 torn and chipped with small loss), preserved in a modern green half cloth portfolio, marbled boards, cloth ties.





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12.07.2023 – 12.07.2023
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Plus du Créateur

WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750)
WILKES, Benjamin (fl.1740-1750)
£2 000

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