LEWIN, William (1747-1795)
Lot 167

LEWIN, William (1747-1795)

The Insects of Great Britain. London: J. Johnson, 1795.

Closed12 July 2023

Price Realised

GBP 1,386

More Information

Conditions of Sale
How to sell

LEWIN, William (1747-1795)
The Insects of Great Britain. London: J. Johnson, 1795.
First edition, first issue with 'End of first volume' at foot of final leaf, a nice copy with wide margins. All the species known at the time are described and illustrated, several for the first time. The engraving is accurate and life-like, thus setting a new standard for future works and easy identification of species. Lisney 410; Nissen ZBI 2488.

Vol. I, all published, quarto (264 x 207mm). Title and text in French and English, 46 hand-coloured engraved plates by and after Lewin (scattered light spotting and occasional light offsetting, pencil annotations to text and plates throughout). 19th-century green polished calf, covers with double-gilt fillet and blind foliate roll-tooled border, marbled edges and endpapers (corners bumped, extremities rubbed, spine heavily and worn at head).