Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts

Description

A set of 8 Georgian moth & butterfly copperplate engravings in original colour which have been attractively framed.

The engravings are from Edward Donovan's seminal 16 volume work 'The Natural History of British Insects' published between 1792 and 1813. They have been recently mounted under ivory acid-free boards and elegantly framed using an antiqued silver and gold moulding with an internal gilt beaded slip.

Dimensions: The pictures are relatively small at 37 cm by 27.5 cm and can be hung in a group for maximum effect. The mount windows containing the images are 21 cm by 12.5 cm.

Condition: The prints are generally in excellent antique condition. The Peacock print has some minor foxing but all the others are free of foxing and marks. The frames being recent are in excellent condition and are free of marks, scratches and dents. Each picture has a label on the reverse providing information on the print.

We are only able to show 6 of the 8 engravings so please contact us for further photographs including the two not shown, close-ups and shots of the reverse side of the pictures.

Postage and packing within the UK is £15. Please contact us for overseas destinations.

Biography: Edward Donovan (1768 - 1837) was an Anglo-Irish writer, natural history illustrator and amateur zoologist. He did not travel but collected, described and illustrated many species based on the collections of other naturalists. His many books were successful in his time.
His best known works are The Natural History of British Insects(1792–1813), An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China (1798) and Insects of India, and the Islands in the Indian Seas (1800) and Insects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite, and Other Islands in the Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans (1805).
His reputation was established by the 16 volume work The natural history of British insects published between 1792 and 1813. Each contained high quality plates illustrating the life-cycles of the insects, which he often drew from life. It was initially intended to consist of 10 volumes, but he later added a further six. Earlier volumes were written in English but the later ones were partly in Latin as Donovan became more knowledgeable and perhaps to appeal to a more specialist, but international, readership. It was referenced by several later authors.
He died penniless in 1837 leaving a large family destitute.