Author: [RÖSEL VON ROSENHOF, August Johann and Cornelius Heinrich HEMMERICH (engravers)].
Title: A collection of curious insects.London, printed for Robert Sayer, [between 1760-1766]. Oblong 4to (ca. 20 x 30 cm). With a hand-coloured engraved title page, and 12 hand-coloured engraved plates. 19th-century gold tooled quarter brown calf, sprinkled paper sides.
Description: [13] ll.Exceptionally rare English edition of one of the most important entomological works of the 18th century, with 12 beautifully hand-coloured plates. The plates have been considered some of the most accurate depictions of insects from the time, and show moths, butterflies, caterpillars, dragonflies, mosquitoes, and many different types of beetle in great detail. The present edition appears to be very rare, as we have not been able to find any other copies in libraries or in sales records, nor has it been mentioned in any of the relevant reference works.The present work is an English edition of August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof's (1705-1759) Der monatlich-herausgegeben Insecten-Belustiging (1746-1761). Rösel was an artist who designed and engraved the nearly 300 plates in this work himself. The English version contains only 12 plates, which were engraved by Cornelius Heinrich Hemmerich (fl. 1740). These plates appear to be unique to the English version. While they are clearly derived from Rösel's work, they are not direct copies, as the insects on the plate have been arranged differently. This was likely done because the English edition was published in oblong format, while the German version was not. The plates in the present work are numbered 83-95, which gives the impression they were part of a larger collection. However, the reference works only mention 12 plates and a title page, so the work is in itself complete.The edges and corners of the boards are scuffed, the boards have been rubbed. The plates are somewhat stained and soiled, affecting plate 92, the edges are slightly frayed, the title page and plate 93 are torn in the lower margin, plate 92 is lacking a portion of the lower margin, without affecting the plate, a temporary tattoo of a green butterfly has been added later to plate 86, touching one of the engraved insects, and a later drawing of a moth has been added to plate 92, pencil scratching on the endpapers. Otherwise in good condition.l Cf. Horn/Schenkling 18267 (other ed.); Jisc Library Hub (1 copy, unclear which edition); Jung, Rara, p. 162 (other ed.); Nissen 3466c (other ed.); WorldCat 1492113345 (1 copy, 1794 ed.).

Keywords: [04F65CFF5112] ART, ARCHITECTURE & PHOTOGRAPHY|[04F65CFF5112] ART, ARCHITECTURE & PHOTOGRAPHY -> [G91CNMP078RQ] Drawings, Prints & Watercolours|[5091845FC46C] NATURAL HISTORY|[5091845FC46C] NATURAL HISTORY -> [F937C2A81A8C] Insects & Spiders|