Natural History of The Insects of India

Considered the most beautiful work on the insects of India, this second edition of Donovan’s masterpiece contains 58 fine hand-colored engraved copper plates of different insects of India. Contemporary half morocco, re-backed preserving original spine, covers a little stained, re-cornered, a superb copy in great shape, 4to, 1842.

First published in 1800 titled “An Epitome of The Natural History of the Insects of India, and the Islands in the Indian Seas”, this second edition boasts of superb hand-coloring with unmatched metallic brilliance and iridescence of the exotic insects throughout the Indian subcontinent. The images depict exotic butterflies and other insects on exotic plants throughout the subcontinent and the related islands.

Edward Donovan (1768-1837) published several zoological and entomological works and showed his extensive natural history collections in a private museum in London, but had to auction its holdings in 1818 due to lack of money. An exceptional, collector’s item.